Sea Birds and Forest Birds Abound near Wellington City

Forest and Bird, Issue 180, 1 May 1971, Page 6

Sea Birds and Forest Birds Abound near Wellington City

By

J. A. FOWLER

IN his popular book "Know Your Now Zealand Birds" Dr Westerskov* considers E that a birdwatcher in New Zealand who records 50 to 75 species under field conditions has achieved a considerable degree of experience. I regard myself, therefore, as somewhat fortunate in having been able to record a total in this range in a few weeks; all species were noted well within an easy afternoon's motoring from Wellington City.

THE list includes all native passerines and and parrots (with the exception, of course, of those well known to be very rare or restricted) that might be expected to occur in the North Island and, apart from a small minority, all have been noted in two main localities. These are the daily commuting train route from the Hutt Valley to Wellington and (for “bush” birds) a disused timber track leading from the summit of the Akatarawa road which links Upper Hutt and Waikanae, a route often recommended as a holiday excursion.

Hutt Valley-Wellington Locality

Bullerf records under the heading “Reef Heron” an account of a pair of these birds frequenting a section of Wellington Harbour adjacent to the Hutt Valley railway line. The reef herons have long since disappeared (a short trip to Makara Beach was required to observe this species), but an abundance of bird life is still available for observation by the present-day commuter occupying a window seat on the harbour side; passengers in cars may view from the parallel Hutt Road. Undoubtedly the location most conspicuous and densely frequented by birds is the effluent stream into the harbour at Ngauranga Station from the meat works. The plentiful blood and solid organic material appearing at this point

attract not only fish (and hence anglers) but hordes of red-billed and black-billed gulls. Among the gulls are invariably a few (and sometimes up to 50) larger, uniformly dark birds floating high on the water and resembling large ducks or geese. These are the voracious giant petrels, known to sailors as Nellies and related to the albatrosses. It may be wondered how these truly oceanic birds, whose nearest breeding grounds are Stewart Island, are able to find this source of food so regularly. There seems little doubt that the petrels are lured into the harbour by following ships through the heads in the hope of an easy tit-bit from the galley. An observer with a good pair of binoculars can see this at Seatoun, where the harbour entrance is narrowest. Not only giant petrels but Cape pigeons, usually a wandering albatross or two, and even a fluttering shearwater follow the Picton ferry and other ships. After passing through the heads albatrosses and Cape pigeons turn back out to sea, but the Nellies, with their insatiable greed, follow further into the harbour. The question of how they pin-point a small food source once they are inside the harbour has been answered by Oceanic birds possess a remarkable eyesight and only one needs to discover the effluent stream and alight on the water to feed and others, even at a considerable distance, note the change in behaviour and converge. One hesitates to imagine the state of the harbour in this vicinity if it were not for the petrels and gulls which dispose of the refuse.

Not only at Ngauranga is vigilance rewarding. From Kaiwharawhara to Petone blackbacked gulls drop mussels from a height on to the rocks to break open their prey and have been seen to attack a Caspian tern from the rear. Gannets are not uncommon visitors to the harbour, and white-fronted terns are invariably present and, occasionally, black oystercatchers and white-throated and black shags. After leaving the harbour and proceeding up into the Hutt Valley, the observer is aware of a whole new range of species, chiefly those introduced to New Zealand and abounding in agricultural and semi-rural habitats: Skylark, song thrush, blackbird, hedge sparrow, greenfinch, goldfinch, redpoll, chaffinch, yellowhammer, house sparrow, starling, and whitebacked magpie. Once only have a myna (presumably an individual which found its way over the Rimutakas) and black swan (flying high over the river one evening) been sighted here. By no means are natives or colonists absent, however. On most days the harrier hawk skirts the elevated edge of the valley, and less often kingfisher, white-faced heron, pipit, and New Zealand pigeon may be glimpsed if the train reduces speed near a suitable habitat.

Akatarawa Bush Locality

To observe birds belonging to the true New Zealand bush a birdwatcher leaves the train at Upper Hutt and continues by car along the

Akatarawa road. After a while the road begins to twist and climb sharply through the bush-clad gorge until the rest area at the summit is reached and a fine view of Waikanae and the coast is obtained. On the north side of the road at this point an unsealed track leads into the forest. The track penetrates about 11 miles into the bush through inspiring scenery, but within a few hundred yards of the entrance bellbird, tui, fantail, grey warbler, tomtit, white-eye, and (in the right season) shining and longtailed cuckoo will have been recorded. The last-named bird is located by its harsh call and, with patience, may be seen by waiting until it slips away from its concealed perch. A visitor to the district at night will hear the call passing overhead, interspersing the continual cries of the morepork. After a further 3 miles and a fine last view of Kapiti Island the track turns inland. From here onward the birds mentioned become more numerous, and are joined by two further species—whitehead and rifleman. Whiteheads are most easily seen soon after dawn, when their jangling song discloses their whereabouts in the forest canopy. Riflemen, too, usually introduce themselves with high-pitched squeaks, but, being confiding and haunting lower levels, are frequently to be found with flicking wings among the fallen logs and undergrowth. Without doubt the climax of the walk occurs when a total distance of 6| miles has been covered, at a point known to trampers as The Shoulder. Here the track crosses the

Maymorn Ridge, where a magnificent densely forested valley, concealed to all but those determined to walk the distance, comes into view.

On the second visit to this site a small party of kakariki revealed themselves close to the track —three yellow-crowned and one redcrowned, the bright red crown and patch behind the eye of the latter contrasting significantly with the narrow red forehead and yellow crown of the former species.

This record would seem to be particularly noteworthy in view of the fact that the redcrowned parakeet is supposedly rare on the mainland (see, for example, Harrison, 1970). On the same visit, calls of the kaka were heard several times, but not until the point of returning was one sighted. It flew parallel to the ridge at head height to the observer, affording a splendid view.

I would venture to suggest that this is the nearest area of bush to Wellington extensive enough to accommodate all these species together. It seems that, if only for this reason,

the area, with the track that gives access to it, is very worthy of preservation.

Other Localities

Forty-six bird species have been mentioned. To raise the total to over 50 two other locations, no less convenient for access, had to be visited. The shores of Lake Wairarapa provided pheasant, grey duck, welcome swallow, and banded dotterel, and paradise duck, Canada goose, stilt, pied oystercatcher, and pukeko were observed near Pauatahanui. This list does not purport to be a complete catalogue of the birds of the Wellington district; who knows what sightings may be the reward of the attentive “seawatcher” at Cape Terawhiti, or the fruit of careful examination of the exposed mud at low tide at the Paremata inlet? However, there is little scientific merit in merely accumulating species lists; this article, nevertheless, may serve to indicate the variety of birdlife that, with just a little effort, is available for observation near Wellington, and, by describing the localities where the birds are to be found, may form the basis of further and more specific study.

Manaia Kauri Stand To Be a Forest Sanctuary

ALL the trees in the Manaia kauri stand were to be reserved from felling, the Minister of Forests, Mr D. Maclntyre, said recently, and a forest sanctuary was to be established. An earlier assessment of the stand by Forest Service officers had shown that about 60 per cent of the kauris were in reasonable to good condition, but the remainder had been badly bled for gum and were dead or dying. Before this decision was reached the Director-General of Forests (Mr A. P. Thomson) had been asked to assess the merit of extracting the damaged trees, the needs of industry for kauri timber, and the equally compelling merits of ensuring that remnants of the once great Coromandel kauri forests were reserved for posterity. The Forest Working Plan had provided for suitable areas to be set aside as forest sanctuaries.

“It is the policy of the Forest Service to see that adequate examples of native forests and other natural features are reserved for the benefit of future generations,” Mr Maclntyre said. “It should be appreciated, however, that I endorse the principles of multiple use of

forests, which do not preclude the careful extraction of timber trees from forest parks. Indeed some further logging in the Coromandel Forest Park will take place, but not in the Manaia kauri stand.”

“The Waipoua and Omahuta Forest Sanctuaries and other reserves ensure that some of the northern kauri forests are reserved in North Auckland. An extensive kauri-beech area, west of Katikati, at present being surveyed for a forest sanctuary, and the Manaia kauri area will mean that representative examples of the Coromandel kauri forests are reserved for all time.” [A number of correspondents have requested us to press for the reservation of the Manaia kauri stand. Mr Maclntyre undertook to visit the area with his officers and to arrive at a decision on the spot. Members will be grateful to Mr Maclntyre for deciding to declare the area a forest sanctuary, which is probably the most secure and permanent form of reserve established by legislation.— R. C. Nelson, President.}

*K. E Westerskov. 1967: “Know Your New Zealand Birds”. Whitcombe and Tombs, Christchurch.

tW. Buller. 1888: “A History of the Birds of New Zealand”. 2nd ed., published by author, London.

tH. Guthrie-Smith. 1936: “Sorrows and Joys of a New Zealand Naturalist”. Reed, Wellington.

* M. Harrison. 1970: Notornis. 17 (2) : 115.