Utilisation of New Zealand mangrove swamps by birds. 

G J Cox 

1977 

 

 

Thesis 

Investigated use by birds of a mangrove stand in the Kaipara harbour over 2 years and also one-off surveys in other locations. The kaipara site consisted of tall (5-6m) trees along the seaward fringe, backed by a broad flat area of stunted (1.5m) trees, bouned by a dyke at teh tope of the shore. He recorded 22 species at the Kaipara site of which 12 occurred regularly within the mangroves and 6-7 bred among the mangroves. The 12 species regularly recorded were: white-faced heron (<i>Ardea novaehollandiae</i>), harrier (<i>Circus approximans</i>), chaffinch (<i>Fringilla coelebs</i>), grey warbler (<i>Gerygone igata</i>), Australian magpie (<i>Gymnorhina tibicen</i>), kingfisher (<i>Halcyon sancta</i>), welcome swallow (<i>Hirundo tahitica neoxena</i>), house sparrow (<i>Passer domesticus</i>), pukeko (<i>Porphyrio porphyrio</i>), blackbird (<i>Turdus merula</i>), and silvereye (<i>Zosterops lateralis</i>). The species breeding in the mangroves were: grey warbler, silvereye, fantail (<i>Rhipidura fuliginosa</i>), house sparrow and shining cuckoo (<i>Chrysococcyx lucidus</i>) (in the nest of a grey warbler). A further 5 species, including roosting colonies of little black shags (<i>Phalacrocorax sulcirostris</i>) and pied shags (<i>P. varius</i>) were recorded in mangroves at other locations (e.g. Parengarenga, Kaipara, Manukau, Waitemata, Ohiwa). 

 

Biogeophysical--Mangrove plants--Kaipara harbour--birds