Tuesday, February 7

Bushy Park Forest Sanctuary, Kai Iwi, Whanganui

Surrounding the historic Bushy Park homestead is the 89 hectare Bushy Park Tarapuruhi Forest which is a Forest & Bird Project.  


The forest is a rare example of North Island temperate lowland forest. Lowland forests such as Bushy Park historically harboured the largest and most diverse communities of native and endemic plants and animals. 


Bushy Park Tarapuruhi is unusual in that it survived (most lowland forest was clear felled) and it is relatively unmodified; there has been no logging or burning of the main forest. It was also fenced to exclude domestic livestock in the mid/early 1900s and is now surrounded by a 4.8km pest & predator fence protecting the forest and birdlife from introduced mammals.

Astelia epiphyte 
David searching for frogs. They were having their very own concert in the Bushy Parks wetland. But so typical of frogs, they stopped as soon as they spotted us.


I think the little jetties are so school & other education groups can check out the pond for bugs & insects.


A male Hihi/Stitchbird on high alert. There's a feed station nearby & several males are trying to use it hence this one zipping about chasing them.

The stitchbird was both rare and poorly known about until the 1990s as few people had an opportunity to visit the single remnant population on Little Barrier Island. With careful management & conservation Hihi can now be seen at several protected sanctuaries.

The female Hihi/Stitchbird is hardly ever seen because the boys take over the feed stations. This one approached but was soon seen off (hence the blurry photo, you have got to be quick to capture them!).

Ratanui the big rata tree of Tarapuruhi/Bushy Park is 36.2mtrs tall. Hard to believe that this rata started out as a small vine that grew up it's host tree and then sent out roots down to the ground, became established & slowly swallowed up its host (often a rimu). And look at all those 'widow makers', large clumps of the epiphyte astelia. Epiphytes growing on a tree that started life as an epiphyte.


A big plump Kereru/Wood pigeon grazes on the homestead's front lawn. Our native pigeons often graze on the ground in large flocks, I once saw a group of around 50 or so birds in a paddock in Golden Bay. And if they're not grazing they are often being goof-balls, chasing each other, rolling over, doing mock attacks & aerobatics just off the ground.


There were so many Tieke/Saddleback in the forest, they were calling to each other, flying about & pulling apart rotting trees on the ground & scratching about in the forest litter but they are very hard to take a photo as it's so dark in the bush & they are so fast in amongst the tangle of undergrowth. So as I was checking out the homestead garden...


... I don't know who got the biggest fright, me or the Tieke when I heard some rustling in the undergrowth & crept up to see what it might be. And look who popped out!

Tieke are endemic (found only in NZ) and classed as 'relic'- a small population stabilised after declining. North Island Saddlebacks (and South Island Saddlebacks) are found only on predator free islands or in protected mainland sanctuaries. Because they are weak fliers & spend a lot of time on and near the ground they are easy prey for predators especially rats & stoats.

Did you know that the South Island Saddleback/Tieke has a different coloured juvenile to the North Island Tieke? South Island juveniles (commonly referred to as ‘jackbirds’) are covered entirely in chocolate brown plumage for their first year whereas North Island juveniles have the adult black plumage with the beginnings of the coloured saddle. 

Tieke/Saddleback Jackbird- Ulva Island, Rakiura/Stewart Island

The homestead's lower carpark is also a POP #4565 (park over property), with a maximum of 3 vehicles a night at $20 for two people ($7 extra person). We visited Bushy Park in the ute but thought it would be great to stay & wake up to a dawn chorus although I think our size rig would be borderline getting up the narrow drive & manoeuvring around in the carpark.  



7 comments:

  1. Thank you Shellie. I have loved reading your blogs about Bushy Park which I visited a very long time ago. The stories of the special trees and the birds are precious.

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    1. Thanks, much appreciated, I'm pleased you enjoyed the blog & photos.

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  2. Hi Shellie & David, as per usual interesting and informative. we are heading North ourselves next month so the Naki and Bushy park could be on our hit list as we head to Auckland ...hmm not sure how that will be after predicted weather systems for next week. anyhoo Cheers Jimu & Christine

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    1. Thanks Jimu (& Christine), yes that weather has been a real dampener this summer up north. The rain followed us around the North Island, I think we might have had about 14 days of blue sky hot summer days in 3 months of travel. Back in the South now & enjoying some lovely weather. Enjoy your travels (and yes, comments are coming through I just have to ok them now before they publish, too much spam was getting through), cheers Shellie

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  3. Hi Shellie... i just love those saddlebacks...what beautiful birds! i'm back to catching up on your blog posts.. We are finally making it over for a visit to NZ this coming Easter. Woohoo can't wait! All the best... hope you're keeping safe and surviving the wild weather of the North Island that we're seeing.. Cheers Tim

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    1. Hi Tim, great news you are finally getting that trip to NZ. I'm sure you'll enjoy your travels. Sadly since you wrote this, you will know that the North Island suffered a catastrophic cyclone that has done some unimaginable damage to many places, mainly on the east side of the island & especially in my home province of Hawkes Bay. You may have to change plans if you are heading into those areas. Check out my Facebook page for photos- https://www.facebook.com/shellieevansphotography

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    2. Hi Shellie.. We've been really fortunate I suppose and had not planned to visit the North Island this time.... but wow wee, some incredible images on your facebook page! Just devastating! The power of mother nature eh? All the best.

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Thank you for taking the time to leave a message, I love reading them! All comments are personally moderated by me and I will post and answer them as soon as possible, Shellie