Indigenous Forest

Oparara Basin (Kahurangi National Park)

The Oparara Basin provide some great opportunities for bird watching.  The easily accessible example of a karst landscape with remnant mature rimu and rata forest contains great spotted kiwi, parakeets, kaka, blue duck, western weak, shining cuckoo, SI rifleman, NZ pigeon, SI fantail, yellow breasted tit, grey warbler, brown creeper, silvereye, SI robin, bellbird, tui, yellowhammer, goldfinch.

Estuary Areas

1. Karamea / Otamahana (400ha)
There are a wide range of birds to view within the Karamea area particularly iaround the Coastal exposed mud flats, shingle and shallow water at low tide.  Five high tide roosts a high numbers of birds with viewing of waterfowl, godwits, banded dotterel and SI pied oystercatchers. Banded rail reported from Granite Creek end. Bittern and fernbird in swamp.

 2. Orowaiti Estuary: (240ha)
The Orawaiti Estuary is an area close to Westport with good viewing of birds on the mudflats when they are exposed at low tide plus sand bar roost.  This area provides excellent feeding area for birds, especially waders. 4 high tide roosts. A high density of waders, gulls and herons are found and the area is also used by some migratory waders.   Other birds that can be viewed include white heron, white faced heron, grey duck, SI pied oyster catcher, banded dotterel, bar tailed godwit, pied stilt, Caspian tern, NZ kingfisher.

 3. Okari Lagoon : (400ha)
The Okari Lagoon is a high value site for bird watching as it is a large tidal lagoon with 70% exposed mudflats at low tide and sand dunes, swamp and tidal river mouths.  At high tide the northern end has SI pied oystercatchers (over 5000 at some times can be viewed) as well as godwits and terns.  The area provides excellent feeding for waders with good diversity of differenct brids with examples including white heron, paradise shelduck, grey duck, variable oystercatcher, spur wing plover, banded dotterel, gulls, Caspian tern and white fronted tern.

Coastal Area

Tauranga Bay

The Tauranga Bay area is a site for sooty shearwaters and white fronted terns.  Blue penguins nest along the coast and can be seen during the evening.

Wetland Areas

Birchfield: (95ha)
Birchfield provides a moderate to high value sites with 6% open water.  Has bittern, crake and fernbird are found as well as common water fowl and wading birds.

Bradshaws Lagoon: (30ha)
70% open water with small islands.  High numbers of waterfowl, grey duck, mallard, paradise shelduck and herons and pukeko.

Pakihi

Tiropahi / 4 Mile (350ha)
Tiropahi consists of several areas of pakihi at slightly different stages of vegetation development.  The area is surrounded by forests where a high numbers for fernbirds can be found. Other birds that can be found include parakeets, great spotted kiwi, western weak, shining cuckoo, SI rifleman, SI fantail, N Z pipit, skylark, grey warbler, brown creper, SI robin, silvereye, tui, bellbird.