Waxeye in tree lucern July 09 008
Tauhou (silver–eye or waxeye) - Zosterops lateralis.
Probably the greatest culprit in distributing seeds around the countryside and throughout the bush is Tauhou, the silver–eye (South Islanders tend to use the term waxeye). In the autumn and winter they move about in quite large flocks, descending upon a species and stripping it of its berries before moving on. Because their numbers can be far greater than any other bird species, it is likely that the silvereye has had a significant impact on native forest habitats by changing the seed dispersal pattern and by competing with other animals as well as birds for fruit, nectar and insects.
Tauhou, is a small olive–green forest bird with white rings around the eyes. They have a fine tapered bill and a brush tipped tongue like the Tui and Korimako, the bellbird, for drinking nectar.
Silvereyes were recorded in New Zealand as early as 1832 but it was not until 1856 that they arrived in very large numbers. It is assumed that a storm caught a migrating flock and diverted them here. The Maori name means “stranger”. Because the silver–eye colonised New Zealand naturally, it is classified as a native species and is therefore protected.
It is now one of the most abundant of New Zealand birds and will be found everywhere excepting open grassland habitats. They were at first welcomed by the early settlers and were called the “blight bird” as they soon set to work in gardens and orchards and cleared out the aphides and scale insects including the very obnoxious woolly aphids that infested apple trees, but they soon outstayed their welcome when it was discovered the damage they could do to fruit crops. The birds are strongly territorial and are often seen fluttering their wings aggressively at another bird. The flocking call, often heard in flight, is an excited chirping, while single birds often give a plaintive ‘cree’ call.
Their success as a species has probably a lot to do with their varied diet which is mainly comprised of insects, fruit and nectar, but they will also readily take fat, cooked meat, bread and sugar water from bird tables. But in winter when food supplies such as berries become scarce, very many of them perish.
Waxeye in tree lucern July 09 008
Tauhou (silver–eye or waxeye) - Zosterops lateralis.
Probably the greatest culprit in distributing seeds around the countryside and throughout the bush is Tauhou, the silver–eye (South Islanders tend to use the term waxeye). In the autumn and winter they move about in quite large flocks, descending upon a species and stripping it of its berries before moving on. Because their numbers can be far greater than any other bird species, it is likely that the silvereye has had a significant impact on native forest habitats by changing the seed dispersal pattern and by competing with other animals as well as birds for fruit, nectar and insects.
Tauhou, is a small olive–green forest bird with white rings around the eyes. They have a fine tapered bill and a brush tipped tongue like the Tui and Korimako, the bellbird, for drinking nectar.
Silvereyes were recorded in New Zealand as early as 1832 but it was not until 1856 that they arrived in very large numbers. It is assumed that a storm caught a migrating flock and diverted them here. The Maori name means “stranger”. Because the silver–eye colonised New Zealand naturally, it is classified as a native species and is therefore protected.
It is now one of the most abundant of New Zealand birds and will be found everywhere excepting open grassland habitats. They were at first welcomed by the early settlers and were called the “blight bird” as they soon set to work in gardens and orchards and cleared out the aphides and scale insects including the very obnoxious woolly aphids that infested apple trees, but they soon outstayed their welcome when it was discovered the damage they could do to fruit crops. The birds are strongly territorial and are often seen fluttering their wings aggressively at another bird. The flocking call, often heard in flight, is an excited chirping, while single birds often give a plaintive ‘cree’ call.
Their success as a species has probably a lot to do with their varied diet which is mainly comprised of insects, fruit and nectar, but they will also readily take fat, cooked meat, bread and sugar water from bird tables. But in winter when food supplies such as berries become scarce, very many of them perish.