Bird Sanctuary

Kakariki

Birds of Kapiti

Kaka During the early and late summer months the Kaka (bush parrot) frequents the Rangatira area. They are close relatives of the South Island mountain parrot, the Kea, and, as with the Kea, their numbers in the wild are declining.
The Kaka appears to be drab brown from a distance, but a closer view reveals subtle combinations of bronzy greens and browns tinged with red,and maroon underparts. In flight it displays the striking red underwing. Kaka use their powerful hooked bills to crush rotten wood in their hunt for grubs and insects. They also take considerable quantities of berries and nectar when these are in season.

A feeding station near the ranger's house enables visitors to observe Kaka at close quarters. Birds will often land on visitors' heads and shoulders. Please do not offer them any of your food.

Other Birds Of The Bush

Other birds you are most likely to see in the bush are Weka, Kakariki (parakeet), NZ pigeon, Whitehead, North Island Robin, North Island tomtit, Bellbird, fantail, and Silvereye

The Weka is easily seen. Because of its cheeky nature it always invites attention. Like many other birds it is territorial, and you may see one being chased by another this will be a territorial dispute. The Weka will steal your lunch, or anything else that looks interesting, and take it to a quiet spot (away from other Weka) to test its edibility.

The Kakariki is a rather shy bird. The species on Kapiti is the red-crowned parakeet. Shaped like a budgerigar, it is a striking iridescent green with the red crown and azure blue wings. Kakariki may be seen in pairs or in small chattering flocks.

You can see the NZ pigeon (Kereru) in the trees eating leaves or fruit, or on the ground where grass and clover are very popular foods. It is easily recognised by its noisy flight and handsome plumage of metallic-green above, and pure white breast. The N.Z. pigeon, Kereru, is common on Kapiti.

Whiteheads (bush canaries)

Whiteheads are the most common birds on Kapiti. They move through the forest in noisy, buzzing flocks searching the trees and shrubs for insects. Fantails often follow the Whiteheads and hunt small flying insects that they disturb.

Long-tailed Cuckoo, koekoea

The harsh screech of the migratory long-tailed Cuckoo is one of the most distinctive sounds of Kapiti's forest during summer.

This large bird is difficult to see, being mottled brown and very well camouflaged. It lays eggs in the nests of whiteheads, and the unsuspecting hosts rear the young Cuckoos. The other Cuckoo, the Shining Cuckoo, is rare on Kapiti, and is more often heard than seen. Its shrill whistles are mostly heard in early summer. It's young are reared by grey Warblers.

Moreporks are common on the island and you may occasionally see one during the day. If you hear a commotion of bird song from one spot, it may be that a group of birds has found a morepork and is expressing dissatisfaction at the presence of an age-old enemy. Moreporks eat small animals such as insects and birds. Kapiti supports a population of about 1,000 little spotted Kiwi. These birds are now extinct from the mainland and Kapiti is their last remaining stronghold. As they are nocturnal, it is unlikely you will see them. They are the smallest of New Zealand's unique Kiwi about the size of a small hen. They have beautiful downy, grey and black feathers.

Kapiti also has a small population of the rare South Island brown Kiwi which were introduced to the island in 1912. It is fortunate that both of these Kiwi have found Kapiti an ideal habitat. They can be heard calling most nights as they move around their territories in pairs. They eat insects, worms, leaves, and berries.

Robin, Toutouwai

Kapiti has one of the densest populations of Robins in New Zealand. They seem to be indifferent to people, but they don't hesitate to investigate an intruder in their territory.

Robins are strongly territorial and chase off other Robins and even larger species. The male is slaty-black with a white breast, and the female is grey with a pale grey breast. They have a habit of stopping and standing very erect and still, white hopping over the forest floor looking for small insects. For closer views of Robins, scrape away some of the leaf litter on the ground near you and wait quietly.

A Robin will hop down onto the bare patch and pick up insects that you have uncovered. The smaller, closely related Tomtit is rather more elusive. A sharp-eyed observer may glimpse the distinctive black and white male. The female is dusky grey. Tui and Bellbirds, members of the honeyeater family, are numerous. Tui, the court jesters of the bush, need little introduction. Active and bossy, they spend much time harrying other species, especially where there is a flowering or fruiting tree they particularly like.

The smaller Bellbird is olive-green. The male has a beautiful purple sheen on the head and neck, and the female is dull olive-green with a distinctive white stripe running back from the opening of the bill. The Bellbird's song is easily mistaken for that of the Tui, however, the Tui's song always has more coughs and gurgles. Tui, Bellbird, and the Stitchbird are members of the Honeyeater family. Honeyeaters have unusual tube-like brush-tipped tongues that enable them to drink nectar from flowers.

Stitchbird, Hihi

Until recently, the Stitchbird, was confined to Little Barrier island in Hauraki Gulf. During the early 1980s, however, Stitchbirds were transferred to Hen, Cuvier, and Kapiti Islands in attempts to establish new populations. They settled well on Kapiti and have bred successfully, but their future is still not assured here predation by rats and competition for food with other nectar-eating birds, and for nest sites (which are holes in trees) with Kakariki, have meant that the Stitchbird is barely holding its own. Efforts to secure the future of Stitchbirds on Kapiti include providing extra food during spring and summer when natural supplies are short (feeders are visible along the Trig Track), installing nest boxes that are unattractive to Kakariki, and the programme to eradicate rats.

Saddleback, Tieke

The handsome Saddleback has been one of our most endangered species, but efforts to save it on offshore nature reserves have been successful. It is black with an extraordinary bright chestnut saddle across its back, and orange-red wattles at the base of the bill. The Saddleback belongs to the ancient Wattlebird family, along with the endangered Kokako and Huia, which is now extinct. These species evolved over millions of years in an environment free of four-legged predators. The Saddleback's decline was due to its confiding nature and habit of feeding. On the ground, which made it an easy meal to a marauding cat or stoat. Saddlebacks, which nest in holes in trees and in well hidden places on or near the ground, are vulnerable to rats.

The Norway Rat, in particular, posed serious problems for the Saddlebacks on Kapiti. To protect the Saddlebacks from rats, roost boxes were installed. Saddlebacks on Stanley Island in the Hauraki Gulf have been taught to use roost boxes, and some of these birds have been liberated on Kapiti. Their survival rate has been better than those that don't use roost boxes. Saddlebacks are territorial and sing loud rhythmical songs. In summer you may be lucky enough to see a party of four or even five birds together.

Birds of the coast and lagoon

Along Kapiti's rocky shores Black- Backed and Red-Billed gulls are both common. Try to avoid walking through their colonies at breeding time they will defend their territories vigorously against intruders. The whitefronted Tern breeds on several small rock outcrops off the northern and southern coast. Black and little Shags are often seen fishing just offshore, and you may see a reef Heron stalking prey amongst the boulders. A distinctive sound of the coast is the shrill piping of the variable Oyster-Catcher.

Okupe Lagoon is a rewarding place to observe waterfowl. Grey ducks, Mallards, Shovelers, Black Swans, and Paradise Shelducks all occur there. Pied Stilts wade in the muddy shallows, and Spotless Crake have previously been observed in the dense clumps of sedge and rush.

While crossing to Kapiti you may see Sooty Shearwaters (Mutton birds) and fluttering Shearwaters rising into the breeze, or maybe even a large black giant Petrel or a snowy-white Albatross. The majestic Gannet is often seen off- shore, soaring aloft and plunging into the sea in pursuit of small fish. Blue Penguins may be seen at sea or ashore in their burrows, some of which are sited right on the coastal track.

For a Chart of Bird Spieces on Kapiti Island categorised by rarity see the Bird Chart.