One Night at Mahakirau Forest Estate

Mahakirau Forest Estate

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Three Archey’s frogs, five Hochstetter’s frogs, three Coromandel striped geckos, and one forest gecko… all seen in less than a 24 hour period! Whenever we visit Sara and Ro out at Mahakirau Forest Estate, we are always spoilt with wildlife encounters.

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Mahakirau Forest Estate

The Mahakirau Forest Estate is located on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, and is made up of almost 600 hectares of native forest. This is divided into 24 private properties which are covenanted with the QEII National Trust (560ha) or with Thames Coromandel District Council (16ha). Introduced animal and plant controls are in place on the estate to protect and restore biodiversity. Their efforts do not go unnoticed with many very rare species being found in the area!

Our friend and fellow ecologist, Amy Archer, checking out the freshwater fauna.

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Here is a brief overview of some of the species you might encounter there:

Reptiles and Amphibians

• Coromandel striped gecko (Toropuku “Coromandel”)
• Forest gecko (Mokopirirakau granulatus)
• Pacific gecko (Dactylocnemis pacificus)
• Hochstetter’s frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri)
• Archey’s frog (Leiopelma archeyi)

Birds

• North Island kākā (Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis)
• North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli)
• Kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)
• Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
• Bellbird (Anthornis melanura)
• Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
• Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala toitoi)
• Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
• Grey warbler (Gerygone igata)
• Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus vagans)
• Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae)
• Shining cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidas)
• Long-tailed cuckoo (Urodynamis taitensis)

Insects & other Invertebrates

• Helm’s butterfly (Dodonidia helmsii)
• Red Admiral (Vanessa gonerilla)
• Yellow Admiral (Vanessa itea)
• Checkered cave wētā (Gymnoplectron uncata)
• Painted cave wētā (Neonetus spp.)
• Velvet worms (Peripatoides indigo & P. novaezealandiae)

Freshwater Fish

• Longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii)
• Kokopu spp.

Flora

• Northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta)
• Kauri (Agathis australis)
• Ramarama (Lophomyrtus bullata)
• Miro (Podocarpus ferrugineus)
• Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum)
• Mountain tōtara (Podocarpus hallii)
• Kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides)
• Kaikawaka (Libocedrus bidwillii)
• Tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides)
• Taraire (Beilschmiedia tarairi)
• Pukatea (Laurelia novae-zelandiae)
• Kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile)
• Kānuka (Kunzea spp.)
• Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium)
• King Fern
• Kirk’s daisy (Brachyglottis kirkii)

Looking up towards the canopy.

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OUR ENCOUNTERS

The following photos are a few highlights of our Mahakirau Forest Estate explorations. We went out on a night-walk where we spotted the Archey’s frog, forest gecko and Coromandel striped gecko. We also found Hochstetter’s frogs the next morning on a wander along one of the forested streams.

Amy and Tom have found a critter to photograph.

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Archey’s Frog (Leiopelma archeyi)

Family: Leiopelmatidae
New Zealand Status: Endemic
Conservation Status: Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable (NZTCS), Critically Endangered (IUCN)

The Archey’s frog is the only terrestrial frog found on mainland New Zealand. It is also our smallest native frog, growing up to 37 mm long.

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Check out our blog post about the Archey’s frog from a previous trip here:

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Hochstetter’s Frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri)

Family: Leiopelmatidae
New Zealand Status: Endemic
Conservation Status: At Risk – Declining (NZTCS)

The Hochstetter’s frog is New Zealand’s most widespread native frog. It has partially webbed feet and has more warts than our other native frogs.

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Check out our blog post about the Hochstetter’s frog from a previous trip here:

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Coromandel Striped Gecko (Toropuku “Coromandel”)

Family: Diplodactylidae
New Zealand Status: Endemic
Conservation Status: Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable (NZTCS)

The Coromandel striped gecko is considered to be one of the rarest and most restricted of the New Zealand geckos.

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Check out our blog post about the Coromandel striped gecko from a previous trip here:

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Forest Gecko (Mokopirirakau granulatus)

Family: Diplodactylidae
New Zealand Status: Endemic
Conservation Status: At Risk – Declining (NZTCS)

The Māori name for the forest gecko is moko pirirākau, meaning “the lizard that clings to trees.” You might have noticed that this is also its genus.

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Until Next Time

Thank you, Sara and Ro, for having us to stay once again. We always enjoy our time with you and the other Mahakirau residents (of all varieties, humans included😊).

What a special place you call “home”!

One last view before heading back up the hill. See you again soon!

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References and Further Reading

Department of Conservation Website – Archey’s Frog – http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/frogs-pepeketua/archeys-frog/
(Retrieved 28 March, 2018)

Department of Conservation Website – Frogs/Pepeketua – http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/frogs-pepeketua/
(Retrieved 28 March, 2018)

Department of Conservation Website – New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/science-publications/conservation-publications/nz-threat-classification-system/
(Retrieved 13 March, 2018)

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Website – http://www.iucnredlist.org/
(Retrieved 13 March, 2018)

Mahakirau Forest Estate Website – http://www.mahakirau.co.nz/
(Retrieved 13 March, 2018)

Mahakirau Forest Estate Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/Mahakirau/
(Retrieved 28 March, 2018)

QEII National Trust Website – https://qeiinationaltrust.org.nz/
(Retrieved 13 March, 2018)