Rachel Hufton of Illuminate Ecology, reports following a cannon netting bird banding trip at Awarua Bay, Invercargill, an important wintering site for the South Island New Zealand dotterel. A Nationally Critical Threatened Species of conservation concern. above: South Island dotterel with South Island pied oystercatcher and a bar-tailed godwit at high tide roost site, Awarua… Continue reading Saving the critically threatened southern New Zealand dotterel
Category: Endangered Species
“The Boss” and Edwin – a tale of two kea in Mt Aspiring National Park
A few weeks ago I was involved in the capture and subsequent banding of a young kea. Probably a male, but that is not a certainty with any youngster. At the time while recording the banding with a camera, I was struck on how he took being held in his stride, and when relaxed started… Continue reading “The Boss” and Edwin – a tale of two kea in Mt Aspiring National Park
New Zealand’s alpine parrot the kea, has the beak and has the brain, but that’s not enough
New Zealand’s alpine parrot cuts right across the aloofness of a landscape and weather that takes no prisoners, greeting us with life and curiosity that never fails to get us smiling; a feathered and garrulous court jester of our mountains. The birds decline in numbers to under 5000 has been due to an historic century-long… Continue reading New Zealand’s alpine parrot the kea, has the beak and has the brain, but that’s not enough
Bonding with a bird of the night ~ the ruru (morepork) is associated with the spirit world of the Māori…
A few weeks ago while sitting with one of my friendly companion kea outside Aspiring Hut enjoying the balmy evening with a cuppa and many moths, a dark shadow appeared about a meter off the ground winging towards my face. We all three of us shared a mutual silence while I processed how come another… Continue reading Bonding with a bird of the night ~ the ruru (morepork) is associated with the spirit world of the Māori…
Black petrels (Taiko) return to Great Barrier Island (Aotea) natal colony ~ Rachel Hufton, Ecologist reports…
Mt Hobson (Hirakimata) on Great Barrier Island at 621m, is home to the largest breeding colony of black petrel (Taiko) Procellaria parkinsoni. The geologically and ecologically captivating slopes of Mt Hobson comprise semi-mature forest with remnants of ancient and precious conifer forest. The woodland assemblage combines endemics such… Continue reading Black petrels (Taiko) return to Great Barrier Island (Aotea) natal colony ~ Rachel Hufton, Ecologist reports…