Reviving the songs of Aongatete
Trampers in the Aongatete forest will soon hear a bird call that hasn't been heard for many decades in this corner of the Kaimai Mamaku Park. Join Cindy McQuade as she takes a walk to inspect the new home of a very special bird.
Weka have a short highpitched call that while not exactly melodic, can be described as a very welcome sound in the Aongatete Forest.
Twenty North Island weka have recently been introduced back into the area after many decades absence due to predation by rats, stoats, dogs and ferrets.
At the moment they are living in a specially built aviary, but in mid-June they will be progressively released to roam freely in the bush.
The flightlessness of this iconic, charismatic bird means their home will be the forest floor and for many years volunteers from the Aongatete Forest Restoration Trust, Forest & Bird and Katikati Rotary have been doing the hard yards to make it safe for them to live back here.
This group has as its mission to "bring back the birds of Aongatete" and weka, with their reputation for curiosity and a love of people, were chosen as ideal ambassadors for restoring the forest's biodiversity.
There is a special grace in the bush - from the tall timber reaching up to the sunlight, to the tiny fungus unfurling along the sides of the track. Every step you take reveals a new marvel.
The sound of the weka in chorus with the other native birds though - well that's a treasure that's hard to beat. After so many decades of silence, it's a big sign that this forest is slowly getting its mojo back.
The birds have come from the Motu Valley behind Opotiki, and along with Whirinaki and Russell, these are the only areas that still have permanent populations of the threatened species.
Once the weka have established in the Aongatete Forest it is going to become a very special place that Bay of Plenty residents will need to take great care of. In addition to this, the forest also has the largest area of coastal puriri in the Western BOP - another reason for it to be looked after.
During your walk in the bush, you cannot miss the magnificent puriri spreading their fruit-laden branches over the canopy and if you are quiet enough, you will hear kereru wings beating from above.
Rimu, tawa, pukatea, mahoe, and kamahi are other sights to soothe sore eyes. But while the flora is always marvellous, our recent visit to the forest uncovered another treasure that was just as inspiring.
Many bait lines reaching deep into the forest remind trampers of the volunteers who have worked in the forest to get it back on its feet.
As we walked, we came across numerous volunteers retreating from the bush after they had laid a line of poisonous bait, and others going back in with more.
And the hard work is obviously paying dividends as many ancient trees are now surrounded by tiny offspring growing healthily below, now that possum numbers have decreased.
Thanks to this work, threatened King fern has recently been discovered in the area and rifleman as well as North Island robin have been sighted.
We wanted to stay longer in the forest, so after we finished the Short Loop Track, we decided to continue on and take a 35 minute walk to the waterhole on the Aongatete River.
During summer this walk would usually be easy, but it's a different story during the wetter months. The clay track turns greasy and care is needed if you want to stay on your feet.
Twenty five minutes into the walk, we heard the pounding white noise of falling water, but we needed to contain our excitement as the track gets steeper and rockier as you get nearer the water.
The short, slippery climb down is well worth the trouble as white water pummeling
through gigantic boulders is nature at its most invigorating. So we sat high on the boulders, with ripping, tumbling water beneath and listened to the sounds of the bush and the stream.
What a way to spend a morning.
Thanks to volunteers of the various organisations who have worked for years in this forest. They make moments like this possible. Without them, the sound of the bush would be a much sorrier version of its former magnificent self.
Readers keen to get involved in the forest restoration project can contact Al Fleming on 021 988 295 or Basil Graeme on 07 576 5593. Volunteers meet about six times a year and spend half a day helping restore the forest.
Getting there
Between Tauranga and Katikati, the Aongatete short walks are within the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park. Take Wright Rd, off SH2 and travel approximately 8km. Cars
should be parked in the carpark outside the gates to the Aongatete Outdoor Education Lodge.
For more information on forest restoration and to make donations see: www.forestandbird.org.nz