Download

A quantitative survey of the bird community of Kaitoke wetland, Great Barrier Is., New Zealand between May 1998 and July 2000 using 5-minute counts recorded 33 species, most of which occurred in less than 10% of counts. The commonest species were North Island fernbud (Bowdleria punctata), fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa), silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), grey warbler (Geygone igata), welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena) and (collectively) the exotic finches, yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis). Native wetland species also recorded were spotless crake (Porzana tabuensis), banded rail (Rallus phillipensis), Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus), pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus) and Australasian harrier (Circus approximans). Distributional analysis of the commonest species (those occurring in more than 10% of counts) showed most had some association with a particular vegetation type(s), while few showed any change in conspicuousness with season. There was little apparent movement of buds associated with phenology of the main wetland plant species. The sigruficance of Kaitoke wetland in providing habitat for a range of native wetland bud species is recognised. The current threat to this ecosystem from introduced pests and development pressure, and the paucity of data available on native wetland bird species to inform conservation management, is discussed.