World’s rarest wading bird the kakī / black stilt gets new lease on life

Exciting News Today – kakī New Zealand’s black stilt, has been granted funds to help secure the population status of the worlds rarest wader. Juvenile kakī following release at Tasman Delta, Nov 2016 (Photo by Rachel Hufton) Finally, the Twizel Recovery Centre can begin to increase its capacity for hatching, rearing chicks and releasing juveniles… Continue reading World’s rarest wading bird the kakī / black stilt gets new lease on life

Saving the critically threatened southern New Zealand dotterel

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

“The Boss” and Edwin – a tale of two kea in Mt Aspiring National Park

above: "The Boss" of three kea resident near Aspiring Hut in the West Matukituki valley, Mt Aspiring National Park Mar 2017 ~  photo southern light

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

My favourite kea photo ~ why? I like the smug and comfortable look of confidence and happiness. Yes, kea can both recognise emotions and exhibit them ~ all photos by Southern Light

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