bamboo specific birds

[doc harmony]

I read years ago in a bird field guide that some birds are specific to our southern native bamboo forests. They were the smaller ones ..vireos ? warblers? or ?. Many bird species need a minimum volume of a specific plant habitat to exist (like evergreen forests along streams) ...
Any way my question is 1)does any here know about this and
2)since the ubiquitous native bamboo forests have mostly been replaced with pastures etc whats the scoop on these birds? marc

[paulineisaac]

I read years ago in a bird field guide that some birds are specific to our southern native bamboo forests. They were the smaller ones ..vireos ? warblers? or ?. Many bird species need a minimum volume of a specific plant habitat to exist (like evergreen forests along streams) ...
Any way my question is 1)does any here know about this and
2)since the ubiquitous native bamboo forests have mostly been replaced with pastures etc whats the scoop on these birds? marc


Hi Marc

I don't know the answer to your specific question but birdlife in bamboo is a fond subject of mine. I have seen the native wood hen in NZ rise and perch in the branch tops of our bamboo groves when she is disturbed. What we call starlings and thrush were prone to roost in the groves, as are minor birds from India. I say were because poisons, cats and disease have wiped out the populations and the huge clouds of birds which blocked the fading light at dusk are a thing of the past. If we use manure more often I am told that they might increase. We haven't fertilised much onto our groves for a number of years now. The owl likes to use the bamboo at the edges of the driveways to spot food at night.

cheers
Pauline www.nzbamboo.com