Kiwi & Birdlife Park

While in Queenstown, New Zealand (South Island) I visited the Kiwi & Birdlife Park near my hostel. This park has a wide variety of endemic wildlife, and it was started by a couple who turned this near dump into a wildlife sanctuary. Some of these animals we have already learned about.

New Zealand Falcon (karearea) are endemic to New Zealand. It is its fastest and most aggressive bird of prey. They are nationally threatened and endangered. It is often confused with the common Australasian Harrier, which is much larger.

New Zealand Falcon

Swamp Harrier (kahu) are native to New Zealand. They are self introduced from Australia about 800 years ago. They are now common and widespread.

Swamp Harrier

If you see a bird of prey in New Zealand it will be one of these two (falcon or harrier). But how will you tell which? The falcon is extremely rare while the harrier is common throughout New Zealand. The falcon is fast, with rapid wing beats while the harrier mostly glides and wings set in shallow'v'. Falcons are aggressive and fast and they stoop and dive, they ambush and chase other birds while the harrier searches slowly soaring on in the wind and drops on prey. Falcons eat exclusively live prey and prefer small native birds and are not seen eating road-kill or carrion while the harrier eats mammals and carrion and are frequently seen on New Zealand roads eating dead possums and rabbits. Falcons have a rapid piercing and repeated call while the harrier's is generally silent with an occasional sound.
Owlet Nightjar, Eyles' Harrier and Laughing Owl are now extinct.

Eyles' Harrier

Laughing Owl (you can see where it gets its name from!)

Owlet Nightjar

The Haast's Eagle was the largest and heaviest bird of prey on earth and is now extinct. Weighing around 12kg, they preyed on other birds, especially the gigantic moa. The Haast's Eagle died out after the moa were hunted to extinction. Maori legend tells of the eagle killing children.

Haast Eagle attacking a Moa

Kiwi are New Zealand's most ancient bird, and is their national bird. Because New Zealand had only three native land mammals (tiny bats), kiwi evolved to fill a mammals niche. The unique features of a kiwi include: feathers are shaggy, like coarse hair, bones are heavy and marrow-filled, they have a mammal's low body temperature, live in burrows, chicks hatch fully feathered, but they take 3-5 years to attain adult size, and they are the only bird with nostrils at the tip of their bill. We learned about the five different species (Brown, great spotted, little spotted, rowi, and tokoeka). Rowi and tokoeka are the rarest kiwi- each has only a few hundred adults left. The female kiwi lays a gigantic egg in proportion to their weight- the equivalent of us giving birth to a 35 pound baby!!! Kiwi numbers have plummeted- from millions 200 years ago to about 70,000 today. Many of the places they lived are now cities, towns, or farms. Kiwi are killed by stoats, dogs, cats, ferrets, pigs, and possums. About 50% of kiwi eggs fail to hatch, and of the eggs that do hatch, about 90% of chicks are dead within six months- 70% killed by stoats or cats. About 5% reach adulthood. Kiwis are ratites and related to emu, ostrich, rhea, cassowary, and extinct moa. Ratites lack the keel bone which would normally support powerful flight muscles.

Kiwi

The Morepork is New Zealand's only endemic owl. It is a great forest hunter and can fly without making a noise because it's wing feathers have very soft edges. Maori called them Ruru because of the sound they make. They thought that the cry of a Ruru was a bad omen. Europeans thought that their call sounded like "Morepork". Most birds can't see well at night but Moreporks have  great night vision. They can see in every direction by swelling their head almost right round. Their eyes are on the front of their head like ours so that they can judge distance. The staring eyes on Maori carvings are said to be Morepork eyes. Moreporks also have excellent hearing. One ear is slightly higher than the other, which helps them work out where sounds are coming from. They listen for insects and small animals such as lizards and sleeping birds, then they sneak up on their prey silently, and pounce. They have adapted well to the changing environment. They originally lived in native forests but have adapted to live in man-made parks and pine plantations. Moreporks eat all of their prey but afterwards they cough up a pellet that contains all of the bones, feathers and fur. By pulling them apart with tweezers you can see what they ate for dinner. Rurus nest in hollow trees or in thick clusters of small plants growing in the crooks of branches. They lay two eggs in early sumer. Once the chicks are three weeks old they perch at the nest entrance waiting for their parents to bring them food. When they are small, chicks are fed on insects or small pieces of bird. When they get bigger their parents group whole birds for them to practice ripping food up with their claws and beaks.

Morepork (Ruru)

The comical Kea is a distinctive part of the South Island Mountains. With its loud calls of "keargh" this playful and ever curious bird soon makes itself known to skiers and hikers. There are many stories of kea antics, as they need to investigate any unusual object in their territory. They have been known to shred rubber door seals on cars, steal food and utensils, undo tent seams and generally cause havoc wherever possible. For a lot of the time kea are very private birds staying high in the mountains. In the late winter, the female kea builds a nest in a hollow tree or under a rock. She spends about three and a half weeks in the dark, quiet nest, incubating her eggs. The male brings plant and insect food to the entrance for her. The chicks stay in the nest for up to three months and both parents have to work hard to feed them. Even after fledging the parents will continue to feed them for several more weeks. The young kea learn by mimicking what their parents do and playing with each other. Once they are two or three years old and on their own, kea spend a few years hanging around in kea gangs. These are the kea's 'teenage' years and it is these gangs that are most often seen around places suck as ski fields. Kea use their strong beaks to drill into rotten wood for grubs, pick off leaves and berries and dig up moss, all part of their diet. Their clawed feet are really useful for picking up and holding objects. Kea faced a terrible fate in the early to mid 1900s when they were branded as sheep killers and people were paid to hunt them, but these days they are protected and the only shooting is done by photographers with their cameras! They have the same problem-solving (and mess-making) ability as a 4 year old child. Kea seem common in the wild because they are attracted to popular tourist destinations but their numbers are estimated at around 5,000. Kea are cheeky and inquisitive, the clown of birds and the only alpine parrot in the world- definitely worth protecting!

Kea damaging a windshield wiper

Black Stilts, or kaki as the Maori referred to them as, means neck or throat and comes from the fact that young birds in winter plumage have a white face, breast and belly with a black band at the throat.  The black stilt is one of the rarest wading birds in the world. It was once widespread throughout New Zealand, but now only survives in the Mckenzie Basin. Its numbers dropped to 50 in the early 1980s but have increased to around 150. Black stilts have glossy black plumage with a green sheen, red skinny legs and luminous orange eyes. Their long black bills allow them to probe in shingle and mud on the riverbed for insects. To try and save the black stilt, the Department of Conservation in Twizel runs a captive-breeding program. A breeding pair is held here at the Kiwi Birdlife Park as part of that program. It's main predators are introduced mammals like cats, ferrets, stoats and rats who eat the eggs and chicks. Man-made changes to rivers like damning have also destroyed the birds habitat and natural food. They have several different calls: loud 'yaps' which are alarm calls, quiet 'cheeps' which are contact calls to each other. Black stilts mate for life and new pairs are made usually in winter and early spring. They tend to nest on their own and family groups will defend their territories against other black stilts. This lone nesting makes them more vulnerable to predators. Nesting is from September to January and both birds join in building the nest and share the incubation, which lats for 25 days. The young are slow to mature and rely on both parents for warmth and protection. Juvenile black stilts are black and white and are easily confused with the common pied stilt. The young birds become completely black at around 18months - 2 years of age.

Adult Black Stilt (Kaki)

The Whio/blue duck is endemic to New Zealand, and one of the only four duck species in the world that lives in fast flowing water. They have a special soft lip on the end of their bill which acts like a head on a vacuum cleaner, allowing them to scrape off insect larvae that clings to rocks. They are most active at dawn and dusk and very often hide during the day so they may be hard to spot. Whio are nationally vulnerable and there are believed to be less than 3,000 remaining. The Auckland Zoo participates in the national breed for release program for these rare ducks, helping to boost their numbers in the wild. Whio cannot be held with other ducks as they are fiercely territorial. Their Maori name, whio,  mimics the call the male makes. The female makes a more rattling sound.

Whio/Blue Duck

The Yellow-crowned Parakeet like their cousins the Red-crowned Parakeet were known as Kakariki by Maori due to their bright green color- kakariki is the Maori word for green. The yellow-crowned parakeet is yet another New Zealand bird that has suffered from the destruction of native forest. Once common throughout the three main islands, the yellow-crowned parakeet declined considerably in the first part of the 1900s. It appears to be on the increase again, but is still rare in the area north of Auckland. It prefers mixed podocarp forest. On offshore islands, where the red-crowned parakeet also occurs, it favors taller unbroken forest and scrub; the red-crowned parakeet generally lives in more open areas with low vegetation. On the main islands, pairs or small groups usually feed in the forest canopy or on the outer branches and leaves of shrubs, and someones on or near the ground. However, on offshore islands where there are no introduced predators, like cats or stoats, the yellow-crowned parakeet commonly feeds on the forest floor. It eats a wide range of invertebrates, buds, shoots, flowers and seeds, including those of beech and podocarp. It's diet if very like that of the red-crowned parakeet but has a higher proportion of invertebrates. The breeding season depends on the availability of food. It can extend over most of the year. Young birds have been seen from July until April, but most eggs are laid between October and December. The nest is often in a natural hole in a living or dead tree. In captivity the birds begin breeding at less than one year. The clutch of elliptical white eggs varies from five to nine. The female, fed by the male, incubates for about 20 days. The young are fed on tender shoots and buds. Chicks leave the nest at five or six weeks and continue to be fed by both parents for a further week or so. 

Yellow-crowned Parakeet

Here at the Kiwi & Birdlife Park they are breeding Brown Teal (Pateke) as part of 'Operation Pateke'. The Brown Teal is New Zealand's least-known bird and one of the world's rarest waterfowl. They have been totally protected since 1921 but this has not stopped the decline of the species. To create farmland settlers drained swamps and chopped down forest, which destroyed a lot of the brown teal's habitat. There was also extensive shooting. But the greater the reductions, in some cases complete disappearance, occurred in the North Island after 1920, and may be blamed on an unidentified disease. A large population of brown teal survived on Stewert Island until the 1950s. When cats became common the birds disappeared from there in 1972. Small groups of brown teal are still found on the mainland, the closest being in Fiordland, but Great Barrier Island is probably the only place with a stable population, probably between 600 to 1,000 birds. Brown teal love heavily vegetated wetlands, preferably with some still or slow flowing open water. In some areas brown teal have adapted to farmland living by using partly overgrown stock ponds as their homes. Feeding usually starts at dusk and continues through the night. Insects, worms, and snails are on the menu as well as shoots and succulent roots of vegetation. Brown teal lay a clutch of 4-8 creamy eggs in a bowl of grass. The young chicks can fly 50-55 days after they have hatched. The male stays in the breeding territory as a guard, he looks after his family and is aggressive to all other waterfowl. Outside the breeding season brown teal are very sociable, getting together in big flocks at traditional sites and roosting communally. Sadly it is this trait that has contributed to their downfall: in Northland wherever a roosting site has been destroyed, the number of birds in the area has declined. Hopes of saving the brown teal rely on habitat protection and re-stocking the wild with captive-bred birds. 

Brown Teal (Pateke)

Maori folklore would say that a person who speaks very well speaks with the voice of the Tui (Parson Bird). Often this were kept in cages by Maori and after someone had told their grievance they were judged by the way the tui responded. The tui is famous for its songs. It is the first to sing in the morning and the last to sing at night. It is an incredible  mimic and was kept as a pet by Maori and taught to talk! Tuis love nectar, fruit and insects. You can attract tui to your garden with sugar water. Tuis are monogamous. Courtship involves chasing round and round the nest area after the male has fed the female. The pair also perform duets. Each pair live in a territory defended vigorously by the male, he chases intruders away with near vertical dives and much beak clicking and wing rustling. Tuis nest in a fork or outer branch of a tree and the nest is usually open weave twigs and sticks with a sparse lining of leaves, tree fern scales and moss. The female builds the nest and usually constructs several nests close together before deciding which one to lay her eggs in. Tui are well known for the white tuft under their chin which contrasts against their black feathers. 

Tui

The Campbell Island Teal is fully protected. They are very rare and only found on one of the sub-antarctic islands. Their wings are small for their side therefore they are flightless. Kiwi & Birdlife Park is participating in a nationally coordinated captive program. They were thought to be extinct for 200 years, but rediscovered on Dent Island in 1972. A successful captive breeding program and the world's largest rat eradication saw these rare ducks returned to their original home on Campbell Island where they are now thriving. 

Campbell Island Teal

New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands are isolated, windswept, beautiful and fragile. Located several hundred km south and east of New Zealand, the isolation and harsh climate of these island groups have led to a surprisingly diverse and unique flora and fauna. NZ's Subantarctic Islands were honored with World Heritage status in 1998, being described by the United Nations Environment Program as "the most diverse and extensive of all subantarctic archipelagos." Not all parrots live in paradise. The Antipodes Island parakeet lives only on Antipodes Island, a cold, windy, bleak and unforested Subantarctic Island. As unique as their landscape, this parakeet has adapted to spending most of their time on the ground and they are even known to scavenge and hunt seabirds as a food source. These parakeets are larger than other NZ parakeets, their bill is heavier and their heads are entirely green. 

Antipodes Island Parakeet

Weka are flightless birds with a great homing instinct. They are able to walk great distances and can also swim across rivers and streams, some have been known to swim distances of up to a kilometer to get home! Last century, when weka were widely abundant, local populations were found to appear and disappear abruptly and unaccountably. Birds today walk up to one kilometer to camp sites or picnic spots, where they steal caps of food and bright objects such as spoons. Once hunted by Maori for food, feathers and oil, weka are now protected everywhere except the Chatham Islands. The natural diet of weka in forests is predominantly fallen fruits and invertebrates. They also eat lizards, snails and the eggs and young of birds. Weka often kill mice, rats and young rabbits. Weka who live on the coast make their dinner from sandhoppers, shellfish and storm-cast food. On farmland they eat grasses and seeds, and in some areas they are blamed for pulling out seedlings and damaging vegetable crops such as tomatoes. Agricultural development and the introduction of mammalian predators were the reason for a drop in the number of weka late last century. But the biggest problem was between 1915-1925, when many vanished suddenly, from most of the North Island and parts of the South Island, probably due to disease. Pairs may remain together for many years and defend their home throughout the year. Nesting has been recorded in every month of the year but the peak of the breeding season seems to be July and August. Nests are usually on the ground in dry, sheltered areas concealed in vegetation, but logs, rock overhands, burrows and even outbuildings are used. Most nests are made of grass and lined with finer grass or sometimes feathers, wool, hair and leaves. Their ovoid eggs are creamy white to pinkish with scattered brown and pale purplish blotches, and are laid in clutches of one to six. Incubation, shared by both parents, takes 25-27 days.Though chicks are active within hours of hatching, they stay close to the nest for two to four days. Then they are out in the open. 

Weka

Wood Pigeon's (Kereru's) feathers change color in different lights and are so glossy they shimmer. Maori legend says that the wood pigeon's colors come from the clothes the  God Maui wore when he changed into a pigeon so that he could visit the underworld to look for his parents. Wood pigeons are NZ's largest flighted forest bird. In spring the male wood pigeons show off to the females with amazing flying displays through the trees. They swoop up out of the forest high into the air and then zoom down through the trees and back up again just missing the branches around them. Wood pigeons feed on berries and fruit from February to March and foliage, especially Kowhai leaves, from June to January. They play a very important role in dispersing the seed of many of the native plants. Wood pigeons were an important food source for early settlers and Maori who used to hunt them. During autumn the birds feast on miro berries which make them thirsty so Maori would set nooses along the riverbanks. The birds would come to drink and as they stood up would trap themselves in the noose. The hunter could then come along and collect up the birds for dinner. Nesting usually occurs from November to March and although their nests are simply flimsy platforms of sticks, wood pigeons are very good parents. They only have one chick, which they feed on milk that they excrete from the crops. Later the chicks feed on fruit pulp and they leave the nest after about six weeks. The wood pigeon has been fully protected since 1921 and numbers have gradually increased in more areas. Wood pigeons hardly ever coo but they make up for this by being very noisy ass they crash through trees. 

Wood Pigeon

The red-crowned parakeet like their cousins were known as kakariki by Maori due to their bright green color. When well cared for, red-crowned parakeets successfully raise many youngsters in aviaries throughout New Zealand and increasingly in many parts of the world. However, in the wild in NZ, rats and stoats prey on their nests and although they survive in large numbers on offshore islands, they are not scarce throughout the North and South Islands. Red-crowned parakeets tend to feed in lower parts of the forest and frequently on forest edges and to lower altitudes and so are perhaps more vulnerable to predators. Both the red and yellow crowned parakeets use the forest canopy as they search for food. They eat a large variety of plants including buds, seeds, leaves and berries. When amongst foliage their plumage blends perfectly with the leaves and it is very difficult to see them until they more. Once recognized, their three note call given while foraging indicates others are in the vicinity. They also have a different loud chattering flight call. Nests are in hollow branches or in holes in trunks, sometimes quite close to the ground. Most nesting occurs in spring and summer but it is believed that if there were enough food they would nest all year round. Red-crowned parakeets lay up to nine white eggs which they incubate for about 18-20 days. The male feeds the female with partly digested food outside of the nest. When the chicks hatch, the male continues to feed the female who then in turn passes the food to the chicks. As the chicks grow, the female leaves the nest more often to find food for herself and so the male looks after the youngsters. At five or six weeks the young leave the nest hole but the parents feed them for another week or two. These young will nest the following year. 

Red-crowned Parakeet

Glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa)

One of my adventures while in Auckland was visiting the glowworms in the Waitomo Caves. Many of New Zealand's caves are known for having these magnificent creatures on their ceilings, lighting up the dark like stars.

Magnificent views of the glowworms

These glowworms are actually the larvae of the Arachnocampa luminosa fly- an insect found nowhere else. Adult flies lay eggs on the ceiling of the cave or undercut bank. Hatched larvae cast out fine dangling threads of silk, each with a chain of mucous droplets.

You can clearly see the droplets of mucous along the threads of silk in this picture

As insects fly towards the light of the glowworms, they get caught in the sticky threads and become their dinner. The hungrier the worm, the brighter the glow, so the more likely it is to attract a victim. The glow is the result of a chemical reaction that involves luciferin, the substrate; luciferase, the enzyme that acts upon luciferin; adenosine triphosphate, the energy molecule; and oxygen. It occurs in modified excretory organs known as Malpighian tubules in the abdomen. The larvae are sensitive to light and disturbance and will retreat into their nests and stop glowing if they or their snares are touched. Generally they have few predators. A species of harvestmen is known to prey on the glowworms in some caves. A fungus also affects the species; it gradually kills the larva. Fungus spores are spread by air movement, but since the larvae live out of the wind the spread of spores is limited. The greatest danger to glowworms is from human interference through habitat destruction.

Glowworms are found in both the North and the South Island and are generally widespread, although populations are isolated due to the lack of suitable habitat in areas where farming is intense and forests were cut down. The Waitomo Caves in the North Island and the Te Ana-au Caves in the South Island are the best known habitats, both caves having become popular tourist attractions.

Adult New Zealand glowworms do not feed and live only a few days! Both male and females grow but not nearly as bright as the larvae. Adult insects are poor fliers and so will often remain in the same area, building a colony of glowworms.

I explored the Waitomo Caves by black water rafting through them. I don't have any pictures but it is basically sitting on a round tube like the ones you go down a hill in during the winter, but through the water and rapids in the underground caves! It was so cool and fun to do, especially with the beautiful view the glowworms gave us. We even jumped backwards off some waterfalls- so cool! We were in wet suits and boots and everything but I was still FREEZING as my hands were not covered. It took me awhile to warm up! Here are some pictures of it from google (not me but similar ideas). Keep in mind it was no where near that bright in the caves, it was pitch black other than our tiny head lights!

New Zealand Wildlife- Gone Forever

Here is a list of just some of the species that are gone forever (such a shame):

Greater short-tailed bat

South island giant moa

North island goose

Chatham island fern bird

Mantell's moa

South island adzebill

Stout-legged moa

Scarlett's duck

Crested moa

Aurora frog

Eastern moa

North island piopio

Chatham island bellbird

Little bush moa

New Zealand musk duck

North island giant moa

Stout-legged wren

Heavy-footed moa

Forbes harrier

Upland moa

Waitomo frog

North island snipe

Long-billed wren

South island goose

New Zealand bittern

Finsch's duck

South island kokako

Chatham island raven

Hutton's rail

Oligosoma northlandi

Bush wren

New Zealand owlet-nightjar

Forbes' snipe

Moho

Narrow-bodied skink

Hodgen's waterhen

Hawkin's rail

Sphenodon diversum

New Zealand grayling

Dieffenbach's rail

Huia

North island adzebill

Haast's eagle

South island snipe

Chatham island duck

Markham's frog

South island piopio

New Zealand raven

Chatham island coot

Waitaha penguin

Southern merganser

New Zealand quail

This long list shows that we need to do something now to protect NZ's wildlife before this list gets even longer!

New Zealand Wildlife- The Night (Te Po)

The Night- Te Po
The night reveals some of New Zealand's most distinctive and precious animals. Rarely seen in the wild, these animals inhabit the secret world of the night. From giant insects to flightless birds and unique frogs, New Zealand's nocturnal species highlight the adaptations of its natural treasures. This adaptability served them well for centuries, giving them protection from their natural predators. When humans arrived here, they brought new predators. As stated before, rats, stoats and possums quickly developed an appetite for the native animals. Today, NZ's nocturnal treasures are some of its most endangered. Passionate New Zealanders continue to work to ensure these species will be a feature of the night for generations to come.

Brown Kiwi- An iconic flightless bird, kiwi are a symbol of New Zealand's unique natural heritage. Natives are even called Kiwis! Kiwis are superbly adapted to life on the forest floor with strong, sturdy legs, sharp senses and long bills to probe the leaf little for food. Brown kiwi are the most common of the five kiwi species, but stoats, cats and unleashed dogs remain a major threat to their survival. The flightless kiwi is shy and secretive, yet also feisty and territorial. Adults protect their territories by calling to each other, and will also fight off intruders. Kiwi have many features which make them both unique and vulnerable to introduced predators. The kiwi feeds on the ground at night, and is one of the few birds with a good sense of smell. Nostrils at the end of this long beak help it to sniff for grubs and worms deep in the leaf filter. Kiwis have very poor eyesight, but have sensitive whisker-like facial features that help them to find their way around. Kiwi have weak wing and chest muscles and no breastbone. This makes them particularly vulnerable to crushing injuries, such as dogs bits. In Northland, dog attack is the greatest threat to kiwi survival. Kiwi usually mate for life. If you're in the forest at night you might hear them calling to each other. But don't expect to see them, they are very shy. The female lays one or two enormous eggs- each one can weigh a quarter as much as they do now. This is the largest egg to body size in ratio of any bird. Brown kiwi typically lay eggs between June and December. Unusually for birds, males prepare the nest and burrow and incubate the eggs. Although it can take up to 80 days for eggs to hatch, chicks are independent  just one week after hatching! Unfortunately, these young kiwi are very vulnerable to predators. In areas where predator numbers are not tightly controlled, around 95% of kiwi chicks are killed before they reach six months old. Brown kiwi can live for over 40 years, but in Northland the average life expectancy is just fourteen years. The single greatest cause of kiwi deaths in Northland is dogs. Dogs of all breeds, sizes, and backgrounds kill kiwi. Even the gentlest pet dogs are attracted to the smell of kiwi. An inquisitive dog can kill a kiwi by accident as the kiwi's rib cage is very weak. Some dogs can't resist the hunt. One pet dog managed to kill 500 kiwi in one killing spree. Imagine how you'd feel if that have been your dog! It is very important to keep your dog on a leash when walking in forested areas. Kiwis are a mammal-like bird. Like many of New Zealand's birds, the absence of mammalian predators shaped the evolution of the kiwi in unique ways. It is flightless and generally nocturnal, but it's the mammal-like traits it has developed along the way that make the kiwi a truly unique bird. Kiwi have specialized facial feathers which help them to sense vibration and feel their way around, just like a cat's whiskers. Unlike most birds kiwi have nostrils at the tip of their bills and a keen sense of smell; they can sniff-out their prey well before they see it. Unlike the hollow bone structure of flying birds, kiwi bones are dense and filled with marrow- much like mammals.

Operation Nest Egg & Auckland Zoo- Auckland Zoo supports wild kiwi in Northland and the Coromandel as part of Operation Nest Egg. Hundreds of chicks have been successfully released through this program and with the support of the zoo's visitors, they're continuing this important work. How it works: Incubation and rearing: Kiwi eggs are gathered from the wild and brought to an incubation facility at Auckland Zoo, where they are hatched and cared for. Creching: At 3-4 weeks old, the chicks are released onto monitored predator-free islands Rotoroa, Motuora, and Motutapa where they grow in safety. Release: At around one year old, the young kiwis have a good chance of defending themselves against predators like stoats, and are released into their original populations. Operation Nest Egg (ONE) is a conservation program giving kiwi chicks a head start against predators in unprotected forests across New Zealand. A collaborative effort between Department of Conservation and organizations like Auckland Zoo, ONE ensures young kiwi make it through their most vulnerable first year. The program is bolstering kiwi numbers, and in some areas has increased chick survival rates from just 5% to more than 65%. It gives kiwi a fighting chance! The five species of kiwi in New Zealand are: Brown kiwi, little spotted kiwi, great spotted kiwi, rowi, and tokoeka, each have a specific range.

Brown Kiwi

Glowworms (Puratoke) I will talk about in another post, fully dedicated to them, coming soon!

Glowworms

Robust Skink- This is one of the largest species of skink in New Zealand. Robust skinks are nocturnal and prefer damp environments such as seabird burrows, rotting logs, and thick vegetation. Once widespread in the North Island, predation by introduced mammals means that today it can be found on just a few islands off the east coast.

Robust Skink

Morepork (Ruru)- One of the most familiar sounds in the night forests is the haunting call of New Zealand's last endemic owl. These specialist birds of prey spend their days roosting in old trees and dense brush, before emerging at night to hunt. Ruru are considered watchful guardians in Maori culture, their calls signaling good and sometimes bad omens. They are specialist night hunters, adapted to detect and catch prey in the dark. Keen hearing, excellent vision and the ability to rotate their head almost right around mean that there is no hiding from this bird of prey. Their soft wing feathers let them fly swiftly and silently through the forest to swoop on their prey. Insects, lizards, rats and birds end up in their talons before they ever hear them coming.

Morepork (Ruru)

Short-tailed bats may be tiny, but these bats can fly at 60km an hour, and cover more than 50km in a single night, so they need a lot of forest to move around in. New Zealand's bats are rapidly heading towards extinction caused by predators and loss of habitat. In 2010 a single wild cat killed over 100 bats in a roost in Tongariro National Park before it was caught. Pekapeka have a special relationship with pua o te reinga (Dactylanthus taylori), also known as the woodrose. This is NZ's only fully parasitic flowering plant, which grows on the roots of trees on the forest floor.  Bats use their brush-tipped tongues to soak up the nectar in the flower, just as a paintbrush soaks up water. As it moves from flower to flower it spreads their pollen, pollinating the woodrose and becoming the perfect pollinator! The nectar's sweet scent attracts short-tailed bats, but unfortunately it also appeals to possums, rats, and pigs, which destroy it. The decline in this forest flower may be linked to reduced numbers of the short-tailed bat. If you want to help these unique bats, join conservation projects to protect native forest. This will assist other species too!

Short-tailed Bat

Dactylanthus taylori (Woodrose)

River life is under threat. Healthy rivers are important for the whole environment. NZ's native fish are vital to healthy rivers and lakes, but larger and more aggressive introduced species are having a serious impact on its river life. The brown trout competes for food and eats smaller fish, causing the local extinction of some native species. Introduced to feed on mosquito larvae, gambusia are small but very aggressive. They bite at the eyes and fins of mudfish, and eat the eggs of other fish. Ironically, one thing they don't do very well is eat mosquito larvae! Koi carp were illegally released into NZ's waterways. They will eat almost anything, including other fish, their eggs, insects, and plants. How can you help with the native fish? Plant native species besides streams to create a shady cool habitat, keep waterways open so that fish can migrate to sea and back, fence off streams from livestock, and protect wetlands, as they are often valuable native fish breeding grounds. 

Whitebait- Whitebait fritters are a favorite New Zealand snack, but have you ever wondered what whitebait are? (Probably not if you're not from New Zealand, even if you are). They're sprats, millions of young freshwater fish trying to make their way upstream. Many of NZ's freshwater species are part of the whitebait migration- most common is inanga. After hatching in inland waters, larvae migrate downstream to spend their first winter at sea. The young sprats return to fresh water in the spring, swimming upstream in huge numbers. Those that escape the whitebait nets mature to continue the whitebait cycle.

Whitebait

Black Mudfish- This amazing fish can breathe air and survive without water for several months! In the summer when their water dries up, black mudfish burrow into the soil and go into a state of dormancy similar to hibernation. They stay there motionless, breathing air until the autumn rains come. The black mudfish was widespread but since the reclamation of many wetlands for development, it has become an endangered species. To help built mudfish populations, retain vegetation around ponds and creeks, and keep waterways clean.

Black Mudfish

Giant Kokopu (Taiwharo)- Giant kokopu are unique to New Zealand and are its second largest native freshwater fish after the longfin eel. These nocturnal and secretive fish prefer shallow, swampy forest creeks near the sea, with plenty of shade. Once common in waterways, over-fishing and loss of habitat have reduced their numbers. Introduced brown trout also eat them and complete for food. Instead of scales, they have smooth, though skin with a mucous-like coating. If they survive to maturity, the giant kokopu can grow to a huge 58cm and 2.7kg.

Giant Kokopu (Taiwharo)

Conservation:
The Sky Ranger project enables the Kakapo Recovery team to monitor the health and activity of kakapo living on Hauturu Island using a fixed wing plane and new transmitter technology. The 'smart' transmitters report the kakapo position; whether they're alive or dead, whether the females are nesting and, if so, for how long. The males' transmitters provide information about which females they have mated with and when. Without Sky Ranger, kakapo rangers have had to physically track the birds to get the transmitter signal and data. This is more achievable on Codfish Island, but difficult on Hauturu Island due to its size and steepness, so the Sky Ranger project allows effective monitoring of this very important kakapo population on Hauturu.

The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund is providing resources to the Department of Conservation to undertake a two-part research project on the southern Coromandel brown kiwi. The last comprehensive survey on the population of the southern Coromandel brown kiwi was completed in 1993. Most of the conservation work for brown kiwi has been undertaken in the northern Coromandel area, and very little is known about how their southern counterparts have fared over the past twenty years. The first state is to identify the distribution and abundance of remaining animals. Stage two will involve conducting genetic analysis of kiwi found to establish if they are of eastern or Coromandel origin. To ensure their future survival, some of these kiwi would help to form a founder population on Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund provided support for collection and transfer of 80 critically endangered Archey's frogs from Whareorino Forest to Auckland Zoo (April 2016) where they were quarantined, sexed and swabbed for DNA and for chytrid-fungus infection. In September 2016, the frogs were then transferred to Pukeokahu in Pureora Forest Park, in time for this year's frog breeding season.

Amphibians are declining worldwide and introduced predators are generally accepted as the major contributors of this decline. Wildlife management decisions regarding the control of introduced predators to protect endangered species are often based on data derived from predator diet studies. However, visually identifying frog remains in stomach contents of small mammals was found to be unreliable. The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund is providing resources to Bastian Egeter from Department of Zoology, University of Otago, for the development of molecular techniques to detect and quantify predation on New Zealand and Australian frog species by introduced predators. Kill-trapping and feces collection of wild mammals was undertaken to survey for frog predation. So far, identification of prey remains substantially more successful using DNA-based technique than traditional visual observation. Hedgehogs, pigs and rats have been identified as predators of frogs, including the critically endangered Archey's frog.

Archey's Frog

New Zealand Wildlife- The Wetlands (Ngo Repo)

The Wetlands- Ngo Repo
The plight of New Zealand's wetlands is similar to the draining of the Everglades in Florida. Less than 10% of the wetlands that existed before human settlement remain today. The dramatic loss has had a devastating effect on many of New Zealand's native plants and animals- around 30% of New Zealand's native birds make their home in wetland habitats. The importance of wetlands spreads beyond being the habitat for many diverse species. Among many other things, wetlands: act as natural sediment traps- helping to keep the water in New Zealand's rivers, streams, and lakes clean and pure, and they ensure that water flows are maintained which reduces the impact of heavy rainfall and flooding.

Wetlands support more bird life than any other habitat in New Zealand. They are also home to numerous species of native fish. These fertile areas have been reduced by over 90% through draining for farming, agriculture, and development. As their wetland homes have disappeared, the animals have begun to disappear too. This makes New Zealand's remaining wetlands some of the most precious habitats.

New Zealand Brown Teal (Pateke)- The New Zealand brown teal, or pateke, is found only in New Zealand. Fossil records show it was the most common wetland bird before humans arrived. It has been badly affected by the loss of forests and wetlands, and the arrival of predators. Now the brown teal is restricted to Great Barrier Island, coastal valleys of eastern Northland, and several protected areas. The Brown Teal Recovery Group has been established to help the recovery of brown teal populations and habitats.

New Zealand Brown Teal (Pateke)

New Zealand Grey Teal (Tete)- The grey teal is the smallest of New Zealand's ducks. Only the female quacks. The males makes a soft 'prep' sound. Grey teal are at their most vocal in a flock. Flocks are usually made up of less than 50 birds, but these can swell to over 1000 in autumn. The grey teal often nests in rabbit burrows, or holes in trees- definitely not your average duck!

New Zealand Grey Teal (Tete)

Paradise Shelduck (Putangitangi)- These ducks breed only in New Zealand and are found throughout the mainland and offshore islands. They are often seen in grasslands and open pastures. Unusually for ducks, the female is more eye-catching than the male. Females have a pure white head and chestnut colored body, while males have a dark grey body and black head. This is one of only a few native species to have flourished since humans started converting forests and wetlands into pasture.

Male (left) and female (right) Paradise Shelducks (Putangitangi)

New Zealand Shoveler (Kuruwhengi)- The New Zealand shoveler gets its English name from its long, wide bill which is ideal for filtering food. Invertebrates, seeds, and aquatic plants are all sifted through this bill as it moves through water or over mud. Shovelers prefer lowland, raupo-fringed freshwater marshes. These are among the most threatened habitats in New Zealand, as they are highly fertile and valuable for agriculture. 

New Zealand Shoveler (kuruwhengi)

New Zealand Scaup (Papango)- On the lake you'll see several different types of duck, each special in some way. The New Zealand scaup, or papering, is an expert diver. Its legs are positioned towards the back of its body which makes it clumsy on land but a very strong swimmer. This little duck can hold its breath for twenty seconds while it dives to a depth of 2-3m in search of freshwater snails and aquatic plants. 

New Zealand Scaup (Papango)

New Zealand Kingfisher (Kotare)- These are often seen perched above wetlands or pastures. From these vantage points they use their excellent eyesight to spot prey. With big strong beaks and powerful shoulders, they're completely fearless and are excellent hunters. Despite their name, kingfishers don't just eat fish- they also hunt earthworms, insects, skinks, mice and even small birds, tadpoles, crabs, and eels. 

New Zealand Kingfisher (Kotare)

Pied Stilt (Poaka)- They live in shallow marshes, lagoon, and tidal mudflats. They can be seen in their thousands on major lakes during autumn and winter. Pied stilts have developed a special way to deal with predators. When their nest is threatened, the adult bird moves away from the nest and flaps about helplessly, pretending to be injured. The chicks stay motionless and squat low to the ground. This dramatic display draws the predator away from the nest. 

Pied Stilt (Poaka)

You can help preserve the few wetlands left! Don't let paint or other chemicals into the drain outside, they should only be used for rain! Join a wet regeneration project to plant along waterways near you. 

Conservation:

Glenfern Sanctuary is a predator-controlled area on Great Barrier Island, where threatened and endangered species are now able to thrive. Auckland Zoo is assisting with the rehabilitation and release of pateke by helping Glenfern Sanctuary to convert stock grazing paddocks to wetlands, and build a new aviary for pateke. An upgrade to the existing aviary enclosure will make it suitable as a native bird rehabilitation aviary to receive and attend to sick or injured birds (particularly pateke) to enable them to be released back to the wild. 

Te Henga is the largest wetland in Auckland with sedge and reed beds, mixed flax/ cabbage tree areas and open water. It contains species such as the nationally threatened bittern, fern bird and spotless crake. It is also adjacent to mixed kauri/ broadleaf forest. The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund assists with continuing predator, herbivore and weed control at Forest and Bird's Matuku Reserve, and expanding this to private properties bordering the whole wetland. By controlling predators in Te Henga, the existing rare and uncommon species such as bitterns, marsh crake and fern birds can thrive and species, once part of a mainland wetland, can be returned. In January 2015, pateke were translocated to the area. Auckland Zoo's financial support covers on-going predator control (particularly for stoat and feral cats) in an area including Te Henga wetland, Bethell's Beach and Lake Wainamu.

The Motutapu Restoration Trust is committed to restoring the cultural and natural landscapes of Motutapu Island, which will enable wildlife, including endangered species, to thrive in a safe haven free from animal and plant pests. The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund is helping to fund the translocation of whitehead (popokotea) and North Island saddleback (tieke) to pest-free Motutapu and Rangitoto Islands. They are also funding a project to improve the hydrology and biodiversity of a wetland by drilling, filling (with herbicide), and felling approximately 600 poplar trees (which are draining the wetland) and replacing them with native species. The poplar trees were planted in the late 1960s as a part of land management to drain Central Gully and to provide erosion control. The poplar plantation has a serious detrimental effect on hydrological and ecological processes of the Watershed Catchment area.

New Zealand Wildlife- The Forest (Te Wao Nui a Tane)

The Forest- Te Wao Nui a Tane
Before people arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand, abundant forests covered the land, from the coast to the mountain ranges. These forests teemed with an amazing variety of plants, birds, reptiles, and insects. Many of these species are found nowhere else in the world. These rich forests are a vital part of the New Zealand environment. Unfortunately, in the few centuries since people first settled here, nearly all our forests have been destroyed through clearing for agriculture, farming, forestry, and development. New Zealanders are working together to protect remaining forests and replant trees for forests for the future.

For it's size, New Zealand has lost more Rainforest than any other country on Earth! 99% of its original forest cover is lost forever. New Zealand Rainforests are unique; its islands have been isolated for 70 million years. 85% of its flowering plants, and the world's heaviest insect, the Giant Weta are endemic. Some kauri trees in the forests are over 2,000 years old! Human impact has devastated New Zealand forests. They have been cleared for hunting, settlement and farming. Many New Zealand forest species have become extinct- like moas, giant eagles and huia. Many other species are especially vulnerable- like kiwi, kakapo, kaka, kokako. The forests are also being eaten by imported animals- like possums, pigs and goats. Also, some New Zealand Rainforests are still being logged. You can visit the world's largest kauri tree, Tane Mahuta in Waipoua Forest in Northland. The slow growing kauri forest trees cannot be replaced. It would take thousands of years to regenerate the great kauri forests that have been lost forever.

Huia

Moa

Kiwi

Kaka

Kakapo 

Kokako

Bellbird (Korimako)- Captain Cook described the korimako's melodious song as, 'like small bells exquisitely tuned'. Well camouflaged in the forest, you usually hear a bellbird before you see it. Korimako numbers declined sharply during the 1800s, after European rats and stoats arrived in New Zealand. Although korimako numbers have increased, they are still rare in some parts of the country, particularly on the mainland north of Taupo. Korimako from different areas have noticeably different songs, in the same way that people have regional accents. Young korimako also sound different to adults.

Bellbird (Korimako)

Blue Duck (Whio)- The secretive whio lives in New Zealand's rushing mountain streams. It is one of the only two duck species worldwide that inhabit such fast-flowing waters. Whio have some special adaptations for survival in fast water. They have big, tough feet, so that even ducklings can paddle well in fast-flowing currents. Whio have a specialized technique of nibbling insect larvae from the surface of rocks in shallow white water. Their upper bill has a thick, fleshy 'lip' to protect it from damage as they scrape food from the rocks. This endangered blue duck poses a particular problem for conservationists. Their need for clean, fast-flowing water makes it difficult to provide new predator-free homes. Unlike many other threatened species, they can't simply be moved to pest-free offshore islands. The solution is to control pests within blue duck habitats. This requires ongoing effort, and many conservation groups are working hard to protect whio in the wild. Auckland Zoo actively participates in their recovery, breeding whio in captivity and releasing them into protected rivers in Taranaki.

Blue Duck (Whio)

North Island Saddleback (Tieke)- Tieke were nearly wiped by introduced predators like rats, cats, and stoats, but thanks to the hard work of New Zealand conservationists we can still see them on pest-free islands and reserves. With a unique call, red wattles and a rust colored 'saddle' shape on their back, tieke are one of New Zealand's most distinctive native birds. Like many of the native birds, tieke cannot protect themselves from mammal predators. If we want to see their return to the mainland, we need to find ways to keep these predators in check. Tieke tend to nest and feed near the ground and can be heard hoping and foraging around the forest floor. This makes them easy prey for introduced predators. By the 1960s, just 500 tieke remained on a single island near Auckland, Hen Island, leaving the species in a vulnerable position. Today, thanks to the work of the Department of Conservation, island trust and many committed New Zealanders, the species is stable, with more than 7,000 tieke on fifteen now predator-free islands and fenced mainland sites. Tieke are a great conservation success story, and serve as a great example for why New Zealand is considered a world leader in invasive mammal-predator control for the conservation of native species.

Northern Island Saddleback (Tieke)

Red-crowned Parakeet (Kakariki)- During the 1800s red-crowned parakeets were common across New Zealand. Sometimes flocks would feed on grain and fruit crops, so farmers shot thousands to protect their harvests. Together with the destruction of their old-growth forest habitat and an increase in predators, this almost led to their extinction. Nesting in holes in trees, rocks and soil, females and chicks are vulnerable to predators such as rats and stoats, as there is no escape route. Although almost extinct on the mainland, the red-crowned kakariki is now common on  many pest-free islands.

Red-crowned Parakeet (Kakariki) 

Tui- The tui is easily identified by the curled white tuft under its throat. Among New Zealand’s most vocal song birds, tui are the first to start at dawn and the last to fall quiet at dusk. Their beautiful song combines clicks, whistles, and bell-like notes. Tui mimic the calls of other birds, and even human noises like cellphones! Tui feed mainly on nectar from native flowering plants. They love flax flowers and use their brush tipped tongues to reach the nectar deep in the long flowers.

Tui

North Island Kaka- The boisterous kaka was once abundant in forests throughout New Zealand. Similar to its cousin the kea in size and behavior, the kaka has distinctive dark reddish plumage. The kaka has some special features- a brush-like tongue for collecting nectar, and a strong beak which can open the tough cone of the kauri and dig out grubs from logs. Auckland Zoo is part of a coordinated breeding program that breeds kaka for release to protected wild sites.

North Island Kaka

Forest birds are under threat: many of NZ’s forest birds are threatened  by reduced habitat and introduced species with compete for food. Many also fall prey to introduced mammals, which raid nests and even eat mature birds of some species. Even the big, noisy kaka faces severe threats to it survival. Nesting females are easy prey for stoats as there is no escape from their nests in deep tree holes. As with some other species, this has led to an imbalance in the number of males and females, and lower reproduction rates. Kaka chicks are a target for predators such as stoats and cats as they leave the nest before they’ve learned to fly. Introduced possums and wasps compete with native birds such as the kaka and kakariki for food. Wasps love the honeydew produced by scale insects which collects on beech trees. Native birds rely on this sugary food, and their breeding rates are affected by its loss.

New Zealand Wood Pigeon (Kukupa)- The kukupa is also known as kuku, or kereru. It is NZ’s largest forest bird and plays an important role in forest regeneration by spreading tree seeds. Kukupa can swallow large seeds whole, which pass through them undigested. These seeds are spread across the forest floor, along with some manure to help them grow. Kukupa numbers are declining due to competition for food and predation by possums and rats. Because of their important role in spreading seeds, the disappearance of the kukupa would be a disaster for the native forests.

New Zealand Wood Pigeon (Kukupa)

New Zealand has more than 100 species of weta including the Auckland tree weta. You’ll find them anywhere from the sand dunes to the mountains. You can open a weta hotel in your own garden. All you needs is a length of hollow bamboo. Soon you may hear their evening call. Visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz for more information on making your own weta hotel.

Auckland Tree Weta (I do not like the look of this guy- ew!)

Tree ferns are a distinctive feature of NZ forests. Their majestic crowns spread high in the forest canopy. The koru symbol of an unfurling fern frond and the silver fern are both well-known symbols of New Zealand. Ferns are usually found in tropical climates, so New Zealand has an unusually large range for a temperate country. Of its 200 species, almost half live only in New Zealand. Most ferns prefer damp, shady environments, but some have adapted to drier habitats such as coastal and even alpine areas. NZ’s ferns range from tiny filmy ferns with fronds just 20mm long, to the black mamaku tree ferns which grow to 20m tall. Climbing ferns use the trunks of trees to help them reach great heights. Bracken fern, or rarauhe, is a common plant that grows well all over New Zealand. This makes it very effective in revegetation projects. It was once a staple food for Maori and early settlers, and was also used to cure and prevent many illnesses.

Koru Symbol 

Silver Fern (logo used for New Zealand sports teams)

Tree Ferns

As I talked about before, the kauri tree is a national treasure of New Zealand, and an icon of its once great forests. Kauri grow to more than 50m tall, 10m wide, and can live for more than 2,000 years! With links back to the ancestral forests of Gondwana (the supercontitent of 190 million years ago), kauri are among the world’s mightiest trees. They play a vital role in the forest ecosystem, providing shelter, food, and habitats for a huge range of animals and other plants. The number of rings on the inside of the kauri tell how old it is. They also tell another story. A broad ring means that the tree grew at a greater rate that year. This could have been due to better climate conditions for growth. In older trees, broad rings can indicate that natural fertilizer from bird droppings was more abundant. Kauri are now threatened by the kauri dieback disease. Even the tallest, strongest trees can be killed. Kauri dieback is caused by a fungus-like disease which is spread through soil movement. Please clean your shoes, tires and equipment of all soil before and after visiting kauri forests, keep to tracks, and use cleaning stations whenever they are provided!

This picture shows you just how big the kauri trees can get!

Insects (Ngarara)- It’s easy to overlook the smallest, but most numerous forest dwellers- insects. Yet New Zealand has around 20,000 unique insect species that exist nowhere else! Many have been around for over 360 million years, since before the dinosaurs. Insects play a vital role in recycling organic matter, including dead vegetation and organic waste from animals. They’re also the food supply for many of the larger animals such as fish, frogs, birds and bats.

Puriri Tree and Moth- Puriri trees have a special relationship with New Zealand’s largest moth, called the puriri moth, or pepetuna. Puriri caterpillars burrow deep into the puriri tree. Caterpillars spend up to five years inside these tunnels, feeding on the wood until they pupate and turn into moths. These moths emerge from their holes in trees on warm, humid nights, but live only a few days- just long enough to mate and lay eggs. Look for the scars that puriri moths have left behind in the trunk and branches of this old tree. Because puriri trees can produce fruit and flowers all year, they are an important food source for many native birds. Wild kukupa and tui can often be seen feeding on them.

Puriri Moth

Puriri Tree

You can help save the New Zealand forests! Get involved- join a community planting project. Contact your local Department of Conservation office, council, or conservation organization to find out what’s happening in your area. You can grow native plants in your backyard to provide food and habitat for native animals. And of course, you can help prevent kauri dieback by washing your shoes.

Conservation:

The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund is supporting Dr. Bethany Jackson's research on the health and disease in kakariki on Tiritiri Matangi Island, and implications of Beak and Feather Disease Virus (BFDV) for conservation managers. Since 2004, there has been evidence that indicates BFDV is present in Tiritiri Matangi's kakariki population. However, not enough testing has been conducted, so Dr. Jackson's findings are critical.

There is also a Kokako Recovery Group which the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund is supporting

Auckland Zoo is funding many other conservationist movements to help keep New Zealand's endemic wildlife alive. Many involve putting trackers on highly endangered species to learn more about their whereabouts, habitat use, prey abundance, dispersal behavior, etc.