Nature's Corner - Autumn April 2004 -
flowers, fruits, leaves, birds and bats
Exciting News!
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Long-tailed Bat: There have been several sightings of bats in the Sanctuary during evening walks, and recordings of their calls indicate they are probably long-tailed bats. This is the first time that bats have been detected in Wellington for many decades. Research is needed to identify where the bats go to feed and roost, and how many bats we have. | |
| Long-tailed Bat |
Birds
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| Kaka at feeding station |
Kaka: Like father - like son (except we don't know if it is a boy or girl)! One of this year's kaka fledglings (offspring of Alfie who liked roving as far afield as Island Bay before becoming a father) has taken himself off to Mount Bruce - look for it there - it is a regular at feeding time. We're hoping it'll find a mate and come back to the Sanctuary!
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| Kereru |
Kereru (Native Wood Pigeon): Another pigeon has been released in the valley making a total of 6 released. Two birds have been seen regularly together - a possible pairing for next spring?
Bellbirds: Our last two bellbird chicks have just fledged and can often be seen with a parent at the bellbird feeder at the base of the top dam.
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| Brown Teal Ducklings |
Pateke (Brown Teal) and Scaup: The latest clutches of teal and scaup ducklings can often be seen at the Taylor Wetlands (teal) and the top lake (teal and scaup). Scaup have also been seen on the lower lake. Make use of the new telescope at the top dam and scan around the lake edge to find them.
What's flowering?
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| Male Kanono |
Kanono (Coprosma grandifolia) spiky creamy-white flowers on the male trees throughout the valley.
Koromiko (Hebe stricta) bushes with pale lilac spikes along the roadside on the Lake Road.
Maire tawake (Syzygium maire) creamy-white pohutukawa-type flowers on the trees on the western side of the Lake Road between the Te Mahanga and Swamp Tracks.
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| Panakenake |
Panakenake (Pratia angulata) starry-white asymmetrical flowers on the groundcover in the garden plots.
Lacebark (Hoheria populnea) star-shaped white flowers on the trees on the Valley View and Te Mahanga Tracks.
What's fruiting?
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Karamu (Coprosma robusta) - throughout the valley - look for clusters of bright orange berries - the saddleback have been seen feasting on them! Panakenake (Pratia angulata) wine-red berries amongst the white flowers on the groundcover in the garden plots - it flowers and fruits at the same time! | |
| Karamu |
Leaf-fall
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The NZ Tree fuchsia (kotukutuku) (Fuchsia excorticata) are not dying but merely losing their leaves.
Did you know that the fuchsia is one of only a few deciduous native trees? Look for their distinctively flaking reddish-brown bark along the Lake Road in the vicinity of the Beech Track and also on the Swamp and Te Mahanga Tracks. | |
| Tree Fushia |
Nature's Corner is written by Sanctuary volunteers Pam Fuller and Allison Buchan. © All photographs, except where indicated, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. Clicking on photos with blue borders will take you to a larger photo.
Published 26 April, 2004.