Aug 28, 2026 · 28 min · 13 segments
Emeritus Professor of Ecology **David Norton** has spent a lifetime exploring Aotearoa’s backcountry — from teenage climbs in Arthur’s Pass to fieldwork deep in Westland’s forests. In this episode, he…
David NortonGuestJontyHost
You've got gorgeous red beach, silver beach canopy, lovely understory, a crown fern or prickly shield fern, but there's nothing in between.

That is a really hard thing for people to get their mind around because the forest looks beautiful, but it's missing the in-between layer.

And that in-between layer is really important because it provides food for our birds.
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You've got gorgeous red beach, silver beach canopy, lovely understory, a crown fern or prickly shield fern, but there's nothing in between.

That is a really hard thing for people to get their mind around because the forest looks beautiful, but it's missing the in-between layer.

And that in-between layer is really important because it provides food for our birds.