#kūkupa

[have-you-seen-this-animal]

Could you do a poll for the kereru please?

Of course! Beautiful choice, I love their colors.

@bokoboy55 since I noticed you'd requested the kererū around the same time :)

[franklin-l-toote]

[rupertbbare]

I love these little guys!

My personal favorite bird is the Kererū (aka the Kūkupa, aka the New Zealand Wood Pigeon).

These guys are so fat that when they fly they make a distinctive "woosh-woosh" as their wings struggle to keep them aloft.

Also, when I was googling Kererū I found out that an exoplanet, previously named HD 137388b, has been officially named Kererū by the IAU!

pssttt if you see this post tell me what your favorite bird is

[polwarth]

Kūkupa at Auckland Zoo

[drhoz]

#2449 - Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae ssp. novaeseelandiae - Kererū

AKA New Zealand Pigeon, kūkupa, kūkū, and Hagarrèroo (although that's a very odd word for the region and only recorded by one author in 1783). Previous binomials were Columba novaeseelandiae and Carpophaga novaeseelandiae.

A large endemic fruit and bud-eating pigeon, although there used to be another subspecies on Norfolk Island, and still one on the Chathams. A cultural treasure of the Māori, although the species is now protected from hunting after introduced predators including rats, stoats, and possums munched their way through the population. Still considered a species of Least Concern, though, so it's doing a lot better than far too many NZ bird species.

In one Māori legend, the hero and trickster Māui took the form of a kererū when he went down into the underworld in search of his parents and the kererū's iridescent green-blue and white plumage is because when Māui transformed he was carrying the skirt/apron and belt of his mother, Tāranga. The apron, Te Taro o Tāranga, is the white breast feathers; the belt, Te Tātua a Tāranga, is the green-blue feathers on the neck.

Kererū were the food of choice associated with New Year celebrations as the birds were at their fattest in late June or early July. They also tended to be easier to catch at this time of year because they're drunk on fermented berries. They cloud be caught in their thousands. Kererū feathers continue to be used for making kākahu cloaks, while the tail feathers were used to decorate the tahā huahua (food storage containers). One hunting method used waka waituhi, a water trough suspended in a tree wth snares around the edges. Tame kererū were used as decoys to entice others.

Mangorei, Taranaki, New Zealand

[2domany]

https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/nz-pigeon-kereru/

Csak 650 g? 2 kilóra tippeltem :D

[violetsandshrikes]

WAIT I FORGOT ANOTHER

Kūkupa/Cook Islands Fruit Dove/Lilac-crowned fruit dove

What’s your favorite pigeon species? Mines the bronzewing pigeon!

I’m biased as hell because I worked with rehabbing them a few years ago, so mine is probably the kererū

However I saw a few cool species in the Cook Islands, and I loved the Pacific Imperial Pigeon (Rupe or Lupe depending on where you are)

[cjimenez-spad502]

RESEARCH ON NZ FORESTS

The above photo is  when I visited a Waterfall up North in New Zealand and I really noticed that amazing forest we have in New Zealand.  Having a visit to this waterfall made me really understand all the different layers the forest has to offer. 

In my pocket forest I want to plant native trees and shrubs to attract native birds. As the native flora of NZ is quite unique as it develop in isolation for many of years. Upon research on the New Zealand DOC site I found out what native trees and shrubs native bird are attracted to this includes....

NZ Flax which supports a large amount of animals birds such as the Tui, Bellbirds/korimako, Saddlebacks/tīeke, Short tailed bats/pekapeka, Geckos and several types of insects enjoy nectar from the flax flower.  Flax snails, also often shelter under flax bushes. They don’t eat any part of the flax, but rather they munch on fallen leaves from native broadleaved trees. I believe making the NZ Flax an essential to have in my pocket forest as it supports a broad diversity of flora and fauna 

The Kōwhai which native birds such as the tui, bellbird, kākā and New Zealand pigeon/kererū/kūkū/kūkupa all benefit from kōwhai trees. 

The Nīkau sprouts large clusters of mauve flowers that burst from the base of the lowest branch. The flowers are sticky and sweet with nectar, which attracts insects, especially bees.While insects are probably the main pollinators, birds such as tui, bellbirds and silvereyes also enjoy the nīkau nectar. Flowers occur throughout the entire year.The bright red nīkau fruits take about one year to ripen and are an important food source for native birds, particularly the wood pigeon/kererū and kākā. 

The Cabbage Tree has lovely scented flowers in early summer, which turn into bluish-white berries that birds love to eat. Its a nectar producer from the flowers, so it is a favourite with Bellbird, Tui and Kereru. Cabbage trees also produce berries that provide food.  It is a very tough  tree and will withstand most conditions.

Black Beech (Fuscospora solandri) is an evergreen tree growing to about twenty-five metres tall with a trunk about one metre through.This tree can produce millions of seeds, and during a heavy seed fall about 50 million seeds (about 250 kg of seeds) will fall per hectare which are good for the birds. Small-scale insect sucks the sap of beech trees and produces a sweet substance called ‘honeydew’ and native birds such as Tui, bellbirds, kaka, bats, native insects, and lizards are attracted to this honeydew for food. 

Manukau Tree all the forms of this species are unified by their sharp-tipped leaves, large, solitary white or pink-flushed flowers, with distinctive short, dark red stamens, and persistent greyish-white nut-like capsules. Mānuka/kahikātoa plants are sometimes covered with sooty mould, a black fungus that feeds on the honeydew produced by scale insects. Mānuka/kahikātoa flowers smell very sweet and they provide an important source of pollen and nectar for native bees, flies, moths, beetles and geckos.

However in my site I don’t want to have to many windows as  having a pocket forest when planting too close to windows can confuse birds due to the reflection and a number of kererū are killed every year trying to fly through panes of glass which is something I completely want to avoid. 

[rachael-li-mct]

Transmedia - Other Species to Introduce

Birds

Bellbird Bellbirds have a very important role in the New Zealand ecosystem as they assist with the regeneration of the forest by dispersing seeds from the fruits they eat and also pollinating plants from feeding on flowers. 

Silvereye They are not truly native as they are found in Australia as well. They are found throughout New Zealand and its offshore and outlying islands, occurring in most vegetated habitats, including suburban gardens, farmland, orchards, woodlands and forests. Easily identified with the white ring surrounding their eye with green and cream plumage. Can sometimes feed on aphids. They may spread weed seeds through ingestion of small fruits and they are known to spread seeds of native trees and shrubs, including kahikatea and coprosmas. Silvereyes assist with pollination of some tree species such as kowhai and fuchsia when feeding on nectar.

Dotterel Endemic found on east coast beaches in the northern North Island, but is sparsely distributed around much of the rest of the country.

Insects

Puriri Moth Characterised by their large size and bright green(male) and yellow(female) colour. Puriri moths are found in forests and bush throughout the North Island

NZ Glowworm Endemic fungus gnat that produces a blue green bioluminescence at its larval stage. Usually habitate caves and sheltered banks with high humidity. Uses sticky threads to catch prey.

Plants

Flax, Harakeke One of our most ancient plant species, actually a lily. Provides food, nectar and shelter for native organisms. Found throughout New Zealand, have many uses for humans as well, was once one of our biggest exports. 

Manuka Although Manuka trees are also found in Australia, they are much more common in New Zealand and some species are native (Kanuka). Chemical tests have shown that mānuka/kahikātoa pollen, and honey derived from it, contains powerful insecticides and anti-bacterial agents that can help fight intestinal worms and bacterial infections.

Kowhai Most species are common throughout the country. Tui and bellbird and New Zealand wood pigeon/kererū/kūkū/kūkupa feast on leaves and flowers – kōwhai are an important seasonal nectar food source for them.

Nikau Palm The Nikau is the only palm species native to mainland New Zealand and it is the world's most southerly growing palm. Kererus really like the ripe fruits from the nikau palms.

Lancewood, Horoeka Common throughout shrubs and lowland in the NZ. Has very different juvenile and adult forms, heteroblasty.

Kowharawhara The species generally grow in forests, swamps and amongst low alpine vegetation. Has sweetly scented flowers and fruit which provide nourishment for birds and insects. http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/new-plant-page/astelia-solandri-kowharawhara.html

Notes: It is important to only use locally sourced plants as some plant species are very variable so it would suit local terrain.

References

Auckland Council. (2013, August 27). Indigenous terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems of Auckland. Retrieved from https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/unitary-plan/history-unitary-plan/documentssection32reportproposedaup/appendix-3-11-4.pdf

New Zealand Birds Online. (2013). New Zealand dotterel. Retrieved from http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/new-zealand-dotterel

Martin NA. 2010, revised 2018. Puriri moth - Aenetus virescens. Interesting Insects and other Invertebrates. New Zealand Arthropod Factsheet Series Number 13. http://nzacfactsheets.landcareresearch.co.nz/Index.html. Date Accessed. ISSN 1179-643X.

Wikipedia. (2019, April 2). Arachnocampa luminosa. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachnocampa_luminosa

Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Harakeke/flax. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/harakeke-flax/

Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Kowhai. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/kowhai/

Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Lancewood/horoeka. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/lancewood-horoeka/

Department of Conservation. (n.d.). M'nuka/kahik'toa and k'nuka. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/manuka-kahikatoa-and-kanuka/

T.E.R:R.A.I.N. (n.d.). Rhopalostylis sapida (Nikau Palm). Retrieved from http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/trees-native-botanical-names-r-to-z/nikau-palm.html

T.E.R:R.A.I.N. (n.d.). Astelia solandri (Kowharawhara). Retrieved from http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/new-plant-page/astelia-solandri-kowharawhara.html

[plesantcupoftea]

New Zealand pigeon / kererū / kūkū / kūkupa