Nature's Corner: Early Summer 2004
Bird News
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| Pateke / Brown Teal preening |
Staff and volunteers are busy monitoring seven of our introduced birds: kiwi-pukupuku (little spotted kiwi), pateke (brown teal), toutouwai (North Island robin), korimako (bellbird), miromiro (North Island tomtit), tieke (North Island saddleback) and North Island kaka. Most birds have finished pairing and have built their first nests, while others have already fledged their first clutch and are busy rebuilding nests in preparation for their second nesting. By early December, Sanctuary staff had banded the first new miromiro, korimako, tieke and pateke fledgings of the season.
There are four pairs of kaka nesting, with chicks in all nests, and the possibility of a fifth pair mating. A family of pateke with five ducklings are frequently seen on the Taylor Wetlands, and a second family with three ducklings are often visible around the islands at the top end of the Lower Lake. Four kereru are seen regularly in the vicinity of the western scarp above the Lower Lake, and everyone has their fingers crossed that we will have our first nesting of kereru in the valley this season.
Jackson, our very productive kiwi-pukupuku dad, is sitting on an egg, he and his mate's fifth since their release in July 2000. The egg is expected to hatch around Christmas - a most appropriate Christmas present for the Sanctuary!
The valley is alive with bird song. The Turbine and Tui Glen Tracks are good places to hear the 'squeaky wheelbarrow' song of the miromiro, and in the lower valley look and listen for tieke and bellbird in the vicinity of the Te Mahanga Track.
What is Flowering?
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| Mahoe flowers |
Mahoe / Whiteywood (Melicytus ramiflorus). Small, yellowish, sweetly-scented flowers are crowded along woody twigs. A very common tree in the Sanctuary. For a close look at the flowers, look up under the leaves of the tree just behind the fence at the back of the Heritage area.
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| Fallen Hinau flowers |
Hinau (Elaeocarpus dentatus). Throughout the valley, especially at the top of the Beech Track and on the western scarp above the Lower Dam. Clusters of small creamy-white ‘lily of the valley’ shaped flowers. To see these close up, look for the tree on the northern side of the eastern end of the top dam, or the small white flowers on Lake Road near the junction of the Te Mahanga Track.
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| Kamahi flowers |
Kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa). Mostly on the western side of the valley. Look for the three large round-headed trees, with a creamy-brown or pinkish tinge, on the western scarp above the Lower Dam. Coming into flower late November, and covered with hebe-like flower spikes. Pink flower buds open to white flowers that resemble small bottle-brushes. As flowering ceases and seed capsules form, the trees will redden and be even more distinctive.
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| Ti Kouka flower sprays |
Ti Kouka / Cabbage Tree (Cordyline australis). Large, much-branched, flower sprays. The white or cream flowers are sweetly scented, and their prominent stamens give them a fluffy appearance. A tree behind the seats on the east side of the round lawn above the Heritage area offers a close-up view. Look also for the much taller tree flowering in Birdsong Gully.
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| Titoki flower sprays |
Titoki (Alectryon excelsus). Coming into flower at the end of November. Large sprays of tiny, dark purple or wine-coloured flowers, at times so prolific they cover the tree. Throughout the valley, but look for the large bronze-leafed, round-headed tree with its ‘crown’ of flowers on the hillside above the Taylor wetlands.
Tutu (Coriaria arborea). Many tiny flowers crowded on hanging catkins. Some flowers are starting the transition to fruit. See the bush on the hillside, overhanging Lake Road just south of the short white fence.
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| Ngaio flowers |
Ngaio (Myoporum laetum). Starry white flowers with pink markings are to be seen on all the ngaio trees planted along Lake Road.
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| Rewarewa flower cluster |
Rewarewa (Knightia excelsa). Now flowering (early December). Rust-coloured flower buds open to reveal crimson flowers with long yellow-tipped styles projecting from them like needles. Best seen on the tree overhanging the stream on the western side of the second bridge from the southern end of Te Mahanga Track.
Kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum). Throughout the valley. Male bushes are still flowering, shedding pollen from their candle-like flower spikes, but most females have moved into the fruit-forming stage.
Rengarenga / Renga Renga Lily (Arthropodium cirratum). Coming into flower in the garden plots in the car park, around the Visitor Centre and in other garden beds in the lower valley.
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| Repehinapapa flowers |
Repehinapapa (Arthropodium candidum). Tiny white flowers on delicate stems rising above low-growing grass-like leaves. May be seen by a tall tree stump on the down-hill side of the Valley View Track opposite the blue triangle 'CC,' two bends south of the McGilvary Seat.
Poroporo (Solanum laciniatum). The deep purple flowers of this small shrub are on display throughout the valley, and also in the garden beds at the side of the car park and beside the Visitor Centre.
Kowharawhara / Astelia (Astelia species). Spiky-leafed plants that resemble NZ flaxes. Look for these flowering in the planted areas in the lower valley. They are also abundant at the southern end of the valley.
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| Whau flowers |
Whau (Entelea arborescens). Young trees planted along the eastern fence-line, south of the Union Mine Track, have clusters of large white flowers with yellow stamens. In flower mid-November.
Panakenake (Pratia angulata).Starry-white asymmetrical flowers on the ground cover in the garden plots in the lower valley.
Mikoikoi (Libertia grandiflora). White three-petalled flowers float above tufts of grassy leaves. Flowering throughout the valley, but most easily seen on Valley View Track.
New season’s fruit forming
Kotukutuku / Tree Fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata). Small green oblong berries developing. Throughout the valley, but easily seen on the tree overhanging the west entrance to the top dam.
Makomako / Wineberry (Aristotelia serrata). Sprays of tiny green berries are forming on female trees. Look closely at the tree overhanging the fence at the western end of the top dam.
Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium). Pale, slightly furry, unripe seed capsules on the female or hermaphrodite trees. Throughout the valley, but look for the tree along the fence at the Heritage area.
Tarata / Lemonwood (Pittosporum eugenioides). Bunches of small green seed capsules on trees throughout the valley. Check out the tree overhanging the fence at the back of the Heritage area.
Kowhai (Sophora microphylla). New green seed pods developing. Check out the large trees on either side of the top dam, and the grove between the beginning of the Round the Lake Track and the track down to the hides.
Hangehange (Geniostoma rupestre). Throughout the valley. Flowering is almost finished and small green fruit is forming on most bushes.
Karamu (Coprosma robusta). Throughout the valley. New green berries forming on female trees.
Kanono (Coprosma grandifolia). Medium sized pale-green fruit on the female trees throughout the valley and especially along Lake Road.
Ripe Fruit or Seeds
Rangiora / Bushman’s Friend (Brachyglottis repanda). Throughout the valley. Most bushes along Lake Road are developing and ripening seeds. The more advanced seeds are fluffing up, getting ready to fly away like thistledown.
Whauwhaupaku / Five Finger (Pseudopanax arboreus). Throughout the valley. Large clusters of purple-black fruit on the female trees. Fallen fruit clusters may be seen lying on the tracks.
Porokaiwhiri / Pigeonwood (Hedycarya arborea). Bunches of glossy dark-green berries beginning to ripen. Best seen on the trees along the roadside through the weka gate as you approach the southern part of the Valley View track. Look also for the orange oval-shaped berries on the ground in the vicinity of the junction of the Valley View and Fantail Track and the Beech Track.
Vines
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| Unripe Karewao fruit |
Karewao / Kareao / Supplejack (Ripogonum scandens). Sprays of tiny green flowers and clusters of last season’s fruit. The fruit is often still green, but has occasionally ripened to red. Throughout the valley, but easily seen along both the Beech and Swamp Tracks.
Pikirangi / Mistletoe (Ileostylus micranthus). Some of the seed of this small-flowered mistletoe placed on hosts earlier this year is germinating.
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| Kaihua flowers |
Kaihua / New Zealand Jasmine (Parsonsia heterophylla). Throughout the valley but look for the clusters of small creamy tubular flowers (perfumed) on the vine on the mahoe on the lake side of Lake Road about 30 paces south of the sign for the Valley View track.
Tataramoa / Bush Lawyer (Rubus cissoides). Throughout the valley. Flower petals have fallen to the ground and fruit formation has begun. Look for the small green raspberry-shaped berries on the vine dangling from the tree on the left at the entrance to the kaka feeders at the base of the top dam.
Akakura / Scarlet Rata Vine (Metrosideros fulgens). The flowers, which previously could be seen around the western fence-line, are developing into seed capsules.
Flaxes
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| Wharariki flowers |
Harakeke / Swamp Flax (Phormium tenax) and Wharariki / Coastal flax / Mountain flax (Phormium cookianum). Flax occurs throughout the valley. Most are now in full flower, but some plants have finished flowering and seed pods are forming. Of the two species of flax, wharariki is by far the most common in the Sanctuary, being most abundant on the higher slopes toward the southern end of the valley. Of the flaxes in the planted areas the smaller, softer, light green plants with the twisted leaves are wharariki and the larger, stronger-looking plants are harakeke.
Ferns
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| Mamaku grove |
Mamaku / Black Tree Fern (Cyathea medullaris). New fronds can be seen on mamaku - New Zealand’s tallest tree fern. Throughout the valley. Look for the tall ferns above the canopy on the western scarp above the Lower Dam.
Manamana / Hen and Chickens Fern (Asplenium bulbiferum). Small plantlets called bulbils (chickens) have appeared on many leaf fronds - plants can be seen throughout the valley, but especially along the Te Mahanga and Swamp Tracks.
Ponga / Silver Fern (Cyathea dealbata) Multiple fronds are emerging on ferns. Ponga are our national fern emblem. Throughout the valley, but easily seen on Valley View, Beech, Round the Lake and Fuchsia tracks. Note the silvery-white underside to the mature fern fronds.
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 December 14, 2004