Kowhai flowers come into bloom, right when our native birds need a big energy boost for nesting after winter when food sources may have been more limited. Nectar feeders such as tui, bellbirds/korimako and even saddlebacks/tieke feast on the tasty nectar, and native pigeons (kereru/kukupa) eat the whole flowers like they’re lollies. Kowhai trees can be covered in birds – visit Tiritiri Matangi Island in spring and you’ll see dozens of tui in one tree sometimes fighting off other birds trying to muscle in on the feeding frenzy. They do a great job of pollinating the flowers while they’re at it.
