NZ Natives

[Jeffie]

This is nt the place to do this but I have a question about planting NZ natives for our birds. Maybe we should open up another group where things like this can be discussed.

Basically I want some info on what type of trees to plant for our Tui's and other bird life. I allocated a are here at home that I want to plant in native trees. But there are so many trees available. I'm really only interested in trees with flowers that the birds like to feed of.

Any ideas?

[Penny Guy]

I would start by planting Tagasaste. It isn't a native but the kereru love it and it is an excellent nurses tree as it fixes nitrogen.

[Jeffie]

Good suggestion. I now decidedto look wider than just natives. Thanks

[Nicholas Kiely]

Fig trees always go down a treat with birds.

[Letitia Shaw]

Kowhai would probably be the #1 native for tuis, and also flax. Here's a helpful link with natives and introduced trees: http://www.nzbirds.com/more/plant.html

[KATE MORONEY]

Tui's love Kowhai but they take a while to grow

[Helen]

In the last couple of week I have Tuis (and silver eyes) in the plum tree, Camellias and Rhododendrons. Why not plant Nikau and Karamu for the wood pigeons?

[Jeffie]

Thanks for all for the input, I am a bit concerned as I've done a lot of reading on the net too and NZ books about what trees attract which birds etc. I found the following (see below) I have several of these trees around our property and thinking maybe I should pull them all out?! Some people i've spoken to who is heavily into natives and looking after our birds and feel that I should not worry about this.

'Rhododendron, Rhododendron. Each year tui are brought into bird rescue centres with poisoning from rhododendrons. It is extremely poisonous. I have found that if a camellia is visited by tui in the flowering season, and a rhododendron is flowering nearby of the same colour, the tui may visit this shrub to feed. In my experience, it was a red rhododendron. This has now been removed. If tui are not treated quickly they will die with rhododendron poisoning. (Rhododendron is also toxic to stock etc).'

[Kali]

didn't know that about rhodos, ours is lilac coloured and never seen a tui on it. A tree they like in my garden is the red kakabeak, and its endangered so thats a plus to grow them. the bellbirds are loving the native fuchsia at the moment, its deciduous here so looks a bit scruffy during the winter for awhile. and of course they love the flax (harakeke) flowers when they are out en-mas here.

[Vivien Field]

There is of course the Kowhai tree and native flax the birds love. My mother in law in Waikanae has lots of tui in her kowhai when they are flowering. They coax them in during winter with trays of sugar water hung in the trees. I have also got the native bellbird tree the book I have called "Which native plant can I grow here?" has given me some advice so if you have a specific area, say full-sun, north facing, clay soil, exposed to wind etc just give me an idea and I can check the book to see what plants are recommended for your area. I am currently researching bellbird feeding trees and have planted out Pittosporum 'ralphii', and cook island flax etc to encourage the bellbirds in the area to find my garden!