Birds of Mataia, Kaipara, Aotearoa / New Zealand: A comparative study of avian diversity in pine and mixed indigenous forests

Abstract:
The anthropogenic conversion of indigenous forests into monoculture pine plantations may significantly affect biodiversity. In this study, we compared bird diversity in pine (Pinus radiata) plantation forest with a range of different forested vegetation associations at Mataia, near Glorit, Kaipara, Aotearoa / New Zealand. This study compares avian diversity between the pine plantation and the indigenous forest located in the Mataia conservation area near Glorit. Using five-minute point-count surveys, bird species were recorded across both sites, and their abundance and diversity were analysed. The results show that while both environments host 20 bird species, the indigenous forest supported a higher overall bird abundance (235 individuals) than the pine plantation (179 individuals). The indigenous forest was also noted to support more indigenous avian species that were absent in the pine plantation, such as kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae). The pine plantation hosted a higher number of exotic species, likely due to the invasive and adaptable nature of these birds. The study suggests that, although the biodiversity and structure of indigenous Aotearoa forests are not replicated in pine plantations, these plantations still provide an important habitat for various avifauna species.

Cite as
Klein, R., Owen, J., & Coyle, H. (2026). Birds of Mataia, Kaipara, Aotearoa | New Zealand: A comparative study of avian diversity in pine and mixed indigenous forests. Perspectives in Biodiversity, 4(1): 97–111. https://doi.org/10.55457/pibdiv.004108