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The NZ Wrens in History
16 April 2008  Bush wren, the only colour photo that will ever be taken. Ok. So according to Kerry-Jane Wilson's catch-all of NZ conservation "Flight of the Huia" there were six species of New Zealand wren and they were all adapted to their own ecological role and often existed side by side. There were the Stout Legged Wren and the Long Billed Wren, who existed sometime in the past and are known by the fossils. Then theres the Stephens Island Wren whose final population was famously exterminated by a lighthouse keepers cat, for a slightly more elaborate story check out this: http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_51-2004/Notornis_51_4_193.pdf No4 into the eternal grave of extinction was the Bush Wren, which I would like to briefly elaborate on. In 1963/64 an ecological cataclysm, in the form of rattus rattus, invaded Big South Cape Island (now known as Taukihepa) and neighbouring islands. Muttonbirders reported a rat plague and wildlife officers were sent quickly to investigate, despite their findings and recomendations to act, scientific and political inertia led to delay and the extinction of three unique species; the greater short tailed bat, the Stewart Island Snipe and the Bush Wren. The greater short tailed bat, people don't really know that much about, and much the same can be said for the Stewart Island Snipe, although its aerial displays are thought to be the basis of the Maori legend of the Hakawai: http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/BirdsOfSeaAndShore/WadingBirds/6/en Interesting following rat eradication snipe have been reintroduced to nearby Putauhinu island. However these are Snares Island Snipe, which have not been observed following this aerial display. The Hakawai has been silenced: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/news.aspx?id=42261 But to get onto the bush wren. The wildlife serice team managed to relocate six individuals to nearby Kaimohu island where they were unable to re-establish. The last was seen in 1972. The team which included well known conservationist Don Merton had successfully saved the South Island Saddleback at the same time and used this experience most famously in the subsequent miraculous campaign to save the Black Robin: http://www.kcc.org.nz/birds/blackrobin.asp But couldn't do anything to help the bush wren. So now theres two NZ wrens left the rifleman and the rockwren, so we better keep an eye on them! |
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