Fernbird / mātātā
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Fernbirds do not fall into a 'commonly seen' category. They are a unique species in many ways, not the least being their secretive but sometimes inquisitive behaviours. Enigmatic is possibly the best way to describe them. They are more often heard than seen. Most sightings are usually very brief as having satisfied their curiosity as to what has disturbed them these birds quickly disappear back into their densely vegetated territories. Their very weak flying abilities and habit of feeding and nesting close to the ground exposes them to high levels of predation. Their survival so far, in view of these behaviours and physical limitations, continues to baffle scientists.
Fernbirds are small, sparrow-sized birds, with predominantly streaked brown feathering above and pale spotted breast and underparts - similar to the song thrush. They have a chestnut coloured head cap, a white stripe above the eyes, with their most prominent feature being their very long, brown tail feathers which have a distinctive tattered appearance.
They spend a lot of their day fossicking for food items on or near the ground. These mainly consist of a wide variety of insects and other invertebrates, and less commonly small seeds and berries. They are very territorial, with their calls often being the only thing revealing their presence. A wide variety of calls are used but the main one is a double call, best described as a 'uu-tick' sound, made by the male alone or in duet with its mate. If the call is recorded and played back, it will quickly result in the appearance of its very agitated territorial owners.
Fernbirds are an endemic species, closely related to the Australian spinifex bird. The five NZ subspecies are confined solely to the 3 main NZ islands and some of the smaller off-liers.
The North Island subspecies conservation status is “At Risk/Declining”. The preferred habitat for the North Island fernbird is low densely vegetated areas often adjacent to bodies of water. They have disappeared from large areas in southern parts of the island and are now widely and patchily distributed in suitable coastal habitats north of a line drawn from Waikanae to Porangahau.
Fernbirds are still locally common in dry shrubland near North Cape, present in tussock-covered frost flats up to 1000m altitude in Tongariro National Park and in dense blackberry and bracken fern patches adjacent to exotic forestry blocks on the Maungaharuru Range in Hawkes Bay. Historically they occupied widely diverse habitats over much larger areas. In recent years they have been introduced to Tiritiri-Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf and Mana Island near Porirua.
Fernbirds have been sighted at a number of locations around the Whangamatā Harbour perimeters. Although they may occasionally be seen along the mangroves fringes, they do prefer to live, feed and nest in the more dense and diverse vegetation of the salt-marsh rushes, grasses, sedges and native shrubs. Their nest is a deep cup woven from grass, small twigs and feathers, suspended in dense vegetation, rarely more than 1-2 metres above ground or water level. They lay a clutch of 3-4 eggs which hatch after about 13 days incubation.
The chicks fledge after being fed and brooded in the nest for around 16 days. Both parents share the caring duties. The relatively short incubation and brooding period maybe important factors contributing to the species survival so far as it significantly reduces the period they are most vulnerable to predation. Also, each pair may raise more than 1 brood each breeding season, which is another possible factor in their continued survival.
Whangamatā Harbour Care's predator control programme around the harbour perimeters and contributing catchments will hopefully ensure this species continued presence here.
— John Adams. Whangamatā Harbour Care
