|
The
Forest
Rotorua is
fortunate to have this area of fine native forest so close by.
Because of the far-sighted actions of Rotorua people and the
government about 100 years ago, large areas of the forest were never
logged. This means that some ancient huge trees are still here for
us to see and enjoy. Some of the large trees are rimu (Dacrydium
cupressinum),
pukatea
(Laurelia novae-zelandiae), tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa) and
rewarewa (Knightia excelsa).
A few minutes up
the main walking track is the only surviving large northern rata
tree on the mountain. This has been the subject of a special
protection programme. For details,
click here.
The undergrowth
is more open than it would have been before humans arrived, because
of damage caused by introduced animals.
 However, there are many
different species of plants, ferns and fungi. A very common sight
is the tangled smooth black stems of the supplejack (Ripogonum
scandens),
so named by the pioneers because of its tough and springy nature.
It makes travel through the bush difficult and frustrating. |
|
|
The Wildlife
Introduced pest and predators have severely reduced the
numbers and variety of native birds in the forest. Some that
still can be seen or heard
on the mountain include tomtits, whiteheads, grey warblers,
fantails, tuis, bellbirds, silvereyes, native pigeons,
moreporks (native owls) and kaka (native forest parrots).
While some species are very timid, others, such as the
fantails, might come very close, attr acted
by the insects that you have disturbed.
If it is
summer, you could hear the migratory shining cuckoo or
long-tailed cuckoo. As with cuckoos in other parts of the
world, they lay their eggs in the nests of other species,
who are left to raise the young cuckoo. Most introduced
bird species stay out of the forest.
Some
native species that we hope to be able to return to the
forest as we restore it are kokako, kiwi, robin, rifleman,
red-crowned parakeet and saddleback.
In
addition to the native birds, there are many insects and
other invertebrates in the forest.
|
|
