The little patch of bush at Geraldine, Talbot Forest, has long been notable for its robust population of bellbirds, which seem to have adjusted to the pressures of being surrounded by a town with its cats, rats and other pests. Growing up here I learned to imitate their call and was delighted to discover that on a visit a short while ago I can still call the males to me demanding to know what stranger has entered their territory. The bellbirds used to come to our garden in autumn and winter, for the berries off my mother's fuchsia collection and the honey water we put out for them and were remarkably tame provided our cat was nowhere in sight.
Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve is a small forested reserve of 26 hectares which has large matai, kahikatea and totara, which are centuries old. It is the last remnant of an extensive forest that once covered the Geraldine area. For such a small forest remnant the reserve has remarkable biodiversity. In addition to the centuries old trees, the reserve has a notable canopy forest of kowhai and a wide diversity of other plants. It is also notable as a korimako (bellbird – Anthornis melanuris) stronghold, in spite of being surrounded by Geraldine township and the consequent predation impact of rats and cats. These nectar feeding songbirds are bold and inquisitive and often visit surrounding urban gardens for nectar from flowering shrubs and trees. It also has good numbers of other birds including kereru (NZ pigeon), rioriro (grey warbler), tauhou (silvereye), piwakawaka (fantail) and pipipi (brown creeper).