Visting the forests

Press, 9 January 1987, Page 18

Visting the forests

The birds of Craigieburn

Craigiebum Forest Park is the home of a considerable population of birds. Both. native and introduced species live in a variety of habitats; low country grassland, mountain beech forest,, and sub-alpine scrublands. ! The clearing of much of the original forest and its replacement with introduced, grasses has favoured the build up European bird 1 species, some of which are found throughout the forests' and alpine grasslands. With patience most of the birds listed below can/ be seen. Some bird species are more often heard than seen, and a knowledge of birdsong is a great advantage in their identification. Visitors’ •can listen to a tape recording of birdsong in the visitors’ centre. This will assist in the identification of common species. IN OPEN AREAS AND FOREST MARGINS The birds observed are likely to be introduced ones. Some of thoses to be seen are: Harrier Hawk (Circus approxi mans): 60 cm. Females slightly larger than males. Variable plumage although commonly dark brown; lighter brown barred tail with some white; reddishbrown underparts. Call a high pitched squeal or whistle given in flight. Skylark (Alauda arvensis): 18 cm. Introduced from 1864 onwards. Brown upperparts, dark brown streaks especially on crown with whitish eye-stripe; underpart buff; feathers on the head can be raised to form a crest; short bill; hind-toe with very long claw. Voices a melodious “chirrup” with frequent trills and runs lasting as long as five minutes. Sings while in flight, especially while

hovering. Shy, more often heard than seen. Finches: All finches in New Zealand were introduced in 1862. Four species are found in the park:Greenfinch (Chloris ctiloris) 15cm. Plump. Short forked tail and pale heavy bill. Male — olive green and yellow; female — much duller.

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis): 12.5 cm. Sexes alike. Head red, white and black; back brown underparts whitish; wings black and white band and white spots; black forked tail with white tips.. Redpoll (Carduelis flammea): 12 cm. Streaked greybrown; crimson forehead; black chin; whitish double wing-bar. In summer male

has a pink flush on the breast

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs): 15 cm. Males very brightly coloured — slate blue crown; black forehead; chestnut back; greenish rump; pinkish-brown underparts; black wing with white patch; black tail. Females and juveniles duller. Starling (Stumis vulgaris): 21 cm. Introduced 1862. Stocky bird. Short tail; long pointed bill; upright stance and jaunty walk. Blackish with green and purple gloss. Starlings are clever mimics; their own song a mixture of warbling, chirruping, clicking and whistling. Magpie (Gymnorhina hypoleuca): 42 cm. Imported <from Australia last* century.

Males are black with a very white back; the female’s back is grey. IN THE FOREST Bellbird (Anthornis melahura): Male 20 cm — soft olive green, yellowishgreen sides; tuft of yellow feathers on each side, near angle of wing. Brownishblack wing and tail quills. Female 19 cm - duller with narrow white stripe under, eye. Arched bill and slender tall with fork. Song a sequence of bell-like notes. Rifleman (Acanthisitta chloris): 8 cm. In the park much tamer than the bellbird. Generally located by. high pitched “zip” notes given by pairs or groups. Male yellowish-green above and white below; distinct white eyebrow stripe; black tail tipped with buff. Female — striped dark and light brown above. Spends most of the day searching the trunk and branches of trees for insects. Flicks its wing and tail as it moves.

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis): 12 cm. Head, upper surface of wings and rump, bright yellowish green; .brown wing and. tail quills; grey upper back; greyish white underparts; sides and flanks, brown; white eyering. Commonly seen in flocks in the park. Tomtit (Petroica nacrocephala): 13 cm. South Island sub-species. Breast and abdomen varying yellows, deep orange on upper breast. Head and upper parts black; black throat; white spot on forehead and on each side of tail when spread. Female — greyishbrown.

Brown Creeper (Finschia novaeseelandiae): 13 cm. Top of head and back reddish brown; ashy grey upper

back, dark brown wings; cinnamon brown underparts. Call — rapid succession of harsh notes; song — five or six notes, with third emphasised.

Fantail (Rhipidurar fuliginosa): 16 cm. Dark olive brown above, rich yellowish buff underparts; sooty band across upper breast. Spread tail has distinct vertical stripes. Lively movements, sidling arid postering with tail spread out. Blackbird. (Turdus merula): 25 cm. Introduced. Male — black, orange bill; female — dark brown, grey chin and brown bill. Clear, tuneful song. Shining Cockoo (Chalcites lucidus): 16 cm. Migrates from the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands from mid-August onwards. Upper surface metallic green, sides of face and underparts white; fine glossy green bars; lateral tail gfeathers barred with white. Long-tailed Cuckoo. (Eudynamis taitensis); 40 cm. Arrives from Solomon Islands in the summer. Not often seen. But easily recognisable by its long screeching call. Upperparts dark brown, spotted rufous; underpart white with streaks. Females more

rufous and slightly smaller. Grey Warbler (Gerygone igata): 11 cm. Greenish-grey above, pale throat, breast and abdomen; short rounded tail with white path on either side seen in flight. Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis); 14.5 cm. First introduced in 1868. Upperparts brown streaked black; throat and chest slate grey, underparts paler with heavily streaked flanks. Call is a sharp insistent “tseep;” song a hurried warble.

Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae): 45 cm. Uncommon. Females generally bigger and more colourful than males. Commonly brownish-black with pale underparts striped dark brown. Call — “kek-kek-kek” or a scream. IN OPEN COUNTRY Few birds favour the harsh environment above the bush line. The following are two that do: Pipit (Anthus novaeseelan•diae): 19 cm. Brown above •and white below with dark brown streaked upper breast. Prominent white eyebrow stripe and outer tail feathers. Commonly confused with the skylark ■(also found above the forest) .but the pipit is slenderer, has no crest and seldom sings on the wing. Kea (Nestor notabilis): 46 cm. King of the high country. Olive green with scarlet 'underwing and rump; blueiouter margins of wing quills. Call — drawn out “kea” — mainly delivered in flight. Lives on insects, leaves, fruits and carrion.

Many of the birds live in fairly specific locations within the forest park. The park ranger will be pleased to direct visitors to areas associated with different species of birds and assist with identification.