Tuff Crater is an extinct volcano, which last erupted 200,000 years ago, when the Waitemata Harbour was merely a river. As sea level rose, the crater breached. It is now a tidal estuary supporting a host of wildlife including breeding kotare (kingfisher), breeding swamp harrier (kahu) and banded rail/moho-pereru (naturally uncommon).
The 35ha reserve surrounding the crater contains some quality mixed - broadleaf (kohekohe, puriri, kanuka and kowhai) forest, but is otherwise heavily weed infested. The reserve supports some 39 bird species, 110 insect species including 65 moth species, 105 native plant species and 120 non-native plant species. The crater drains in and out of Shoal Bay which is a “site of special wildlife interest” supporting a diverse population of shorebirds including NZ dotterel and banded dotterel.
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| Tuff Crater |
The Forest
and Bird ecological restoration project at Tuff crater expects to attract a greater number of birds and other species by a progressive
programme of native tree planting and ecological restoration. With an increase in
native trees species and their associated food store of seeds and berries it
should be possible to attract further bird species including those from the
predator free gulf Islands on their flight path to the Waitakere ranges as part
of the North-West Wildlink.
Tree planting started with the Millennium forest below the Warehouse and track clearing and weed clearance has continued around the crater. Thousands of trees have been planted and many hours of community volunteer work have achieved this. It's a work in progress and now predator trapping is being increased to give the vulnerable bird life a chance to nest and thrive.
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| Forest & Bird working party below Warehouse way |
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| Banded Rail |
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| Swamp Harrier |
