Timber tenancies: the nest big thing

Over the last two years, we’ve been working with David Spencer, Managing Director of Tend Trees Ltd, to veteranise pine trees in the valley. The term ‘veteranisation’ stems from ‘veteran tree’, a reference to ancient trees characterized by features like hollows, decayed wood, and dead branches. These attributes, which take decades or centuries to form naturally, provide essential habitats for diverse organisms. Veteranisation is the intentional creation of these features in younger trees through targeted cuts, cavities, or other modifications. This practice aims to accelerate habitat development for birds, fungi, invertebrates, and other organisms that rely on the late stages of a tree's life cycle. 

As part of this work, we’ve also left all the material from the felled pine trees in the sanctuary and created ‘habitat piles’. These piles have been seen as prime real estate for a variety of species in the sanctuary. Rangers recently discovered a big, beautiful (and noisy) chick of a pair of kākā who nested there. While ascertaining that there was in fact a nest there, the rangers also discovered many invertebrates and a tuatara taking advantage of the increased sunlight and nooks and crannies of the log pile. Kiwi also like these sorts of spaces to burrow into, so there may have been even more creatures flatting together in these log lodgings.  

Providing habitat complexity in your garden through rotting logs, leaf litter, rocks/stones, piles of firewood, etc. is often cited as a great way to increase biodiversity around your home. These kinds of spaces can support many different species through creating homes and food for invertebrates, fungi, and lizards, all of which support the rest of the ecosystem. Creating more spaces for invertebrates, for example, can in turn attract insectivorous birds like riroriro, pīwakawaka, titipounamu and more. It’s a great excuse to be an ‘untidy gardener’! 

Hear more about veteranisation on YouTube.