Unique birding

By Rob Lawrence

New Zealand’s isolation is a critical factor in the uniqueness of this environment and its appeal for birding tours. The flora and fauna have developed in the 80 million years of isolation following the separation from ancient Gondwanaland. High percentages of New Zealand’s species are indigenous, in contrast to Britain which has only two indigenous species. Britain has been separated for only relatively a short 10,000 years and remains in close proximity to continental Europe. (See note 1 below)

The diversity of New Zealand’s birdlife thrived in an environment free of mammals (the only indigenous species of mammals are two species of bats) in which birds adapted to fill the available niches. The lack of predators enabled many birds to became flightless.

New Zealand has recorded 328 bird species.(See note 2 below) Sadly, a significant number of these species have become extinct due to the colonization of the islands which began about 1000 years ago following the arrival of Maöri (Polynesian) settlers and accelerated after the arrival of the Europeans in the 1700s.

The first impacts are not always the worst but in the 1700’s, with the arrival of the Europeans and their less environmentally sensitive attitudes and different technological capacities, the impact accelerated.

The effect on the birdlife (initially through hunting and the destruction of habitat) has been profound. The introduction of competitors and predators and accelerated deforestation has continued until today. Nearly 70% of the native forest habitat has been lost through fire and establishment of pastureland and drainage of wetland environments. The results have radically altered an environment that would have been amazing to observe prior to the extinctions.

Many of the more unusual species were the first to fall: (See note 4 below)

Moa: 11 Species of large flightless relatives of the Ostrich Emu and Kiwi
Adzebill: A Flightless Rail weighing in at 10kgs
Te pouakai: The largest eagle known. the NZ Eagle had moa on the menu
Various species of flightless water fowl: Swans and Geese and the NZ Pelican
Owlet-Nightjars: A relative of Australia’s Frogmouth

In total nearly 50 species have been lost to the direct and indirect effects of human settlement.

The decline of some species has been slowed, and birding tours are rewarding, but much work remains to be done.

The effects from the introduction of weeds and animal pests remains the biggest ongoing threat to New Zealand bird life.

Birds have been and remain a key feature of the natural history of New Zealand.

Birds were very important to Maöri, not just as a food source but the richness of their culture captures the beauty and splendour of the birds. Maori gave over 760 specific names were given to bird species. (See note 3 below) One of the more interesting stories is the regular migratory flight path of the long tailed cuckoo being credited with leading the Polynesian explorers to the discovery of New Zealand (Aoteraroa). Another legend details the origin of the Kiwi.

Note 1
www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Animals/index.asp

Note 2
Field Guide to Birds of New Zealand. Heather and Robertson

Note 3
"Which New Zealand bird is this?". Andrew Crowe

Note 4
New Zealand’s Extinct Birds. B Gill and P Martinson