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. 

New Zealand Wildlife- The High Country (Whenua Waotu)

The High Country- Whenua Waotu
In the harsh landscape and extreme climate of the high country, almost every living thing is unique. The inhabitants of this rugged landscape are well-known for their resilient character. Some remarkably adaptable animals have made the high country their home. People have carved their place in the high country too. Southern Maori created vast track networks during seasonal expeditions to gather valuable pounamu from the West Coast. When settlers arrived, they brought sheep, cattle, deer, and rabbits, altering the landscape forever. The complex links between the diverse wildlife of the high country make this habitat extremely vulnerable to change. In spite of its tough appearance, the high country needs our help.

Kea- The world's only alpine parrot, the kea's intelligence helps it survive and adapt in the harsh alpine environments of the South Island. Kea are intelligent, inquisitive birds, famous for their social nature and cheeky nature, yet they are endangered. Controlling mammal predators is an important part of helping kea, but we can also help prevent conflict with humans by not feeding wild kea when we visit the mountains. These curious birds like to take things apart, including removing nails from the huts around Mt Cook National Park. The Department of Conservation has a program to remove lead nails from huts, to prevent any harm to the kea population. Their strong beaks, perfect for digging out roots and grubs, can also break windshield wipers, destroy rubber seals, undo zips, and even let air out of car tires! In the wild, almost half of all Kea eggs are eaten by cats, stoats, ferrets, and possums. Kea are particularly vulnerable because they nest in holes in the ground that are easy to raid. They need extra body fat to survive the harsh winters, so they sometimes seek alternatives to their usual diet of plants and insects. Some have learned how to feed on the fat of live sheep by cutting through the skin on their backs. Sheep can get infections from these wounds and later die, giving kea a reputation as 'sheep killers'. To reduce sheep attacks, a bounty was placed on kea, and about 150,000 were killed. By the time kea hunting was outlawed in 1986, they had become an endangered species. Today, the population is still declining, with only a few thousand left in the wild. A kea might occasionally attack a sheep struggling in deep snow, or strip the windshield wipers off your car, but kea are a special part of New Zealand's natural heritage that needs- and deserves- our protection.

Kea

Weka- The weka is a flightless bird that lives only in New Zealand, and it's just as feisty and curious as the kea. Weka are fast runners, but not fast enough- they are easy prey for cats, dogs, and stoats. Adults are territorial, whereas younger weka travel widely. One tagged bird transported from Gisborne to Hawke's Bay later turned up back in Gisborne, having walked 130km home! Weka were an important food for Maori and European settlers alike. Large and easy to catch, the weka made a substantial meal. Their tendency to prey on other native species poses a problem for conservation staff. In a sanctuary, weka are likely to make a meal of smaller animals. Weka are now rare in many places where they were once common, and are common in a place they never used to live- Chatham Island. They are protected on the mainland, under threat from a combination of predators and loss of habitat.

Weka

Otago Skink- Active during the daytime, the Otaga skink is quicker and more agile than its nocturnal cousins. It uses hearing, smell, and vision to seek out prey, catching small insects with its long, sticky, notched tongue. They even eat other lizards! Like other native New Zealand animals, Otaga skinks evolved in a world without mammalian predators. When cats, rats, and stoats were introduced, the skinks had no defenses. The Otago skink is now critically endangered. Helped by a captive breeding program, mammal-proof fences, and predator traps, the population is slowly increasing.

Otago Skink

Grand Skink- The grand skink is New Zealand's second largest lizard, growing up to 23cm. It is also one of the rarest reptiles, living in very specific habitats- sheltered crevices in rocky outcrops. The grand skink is extremely well adapted to the cold high country landscape. Surrounded by snow and ice, this skink can still be found basking on a sunny ledge.

Grand Skink

New Zealand has more than 40 species of gecko. In New Zealand, geckos are extremely slow breeding and long-lived. In the South Island, some have pregnancies that last over a year. Some geckos have been shows to live for at least 40 years in the wild. As geckos grow, their skin doesn't, so they shed their skins, including the skin over their eyes. Many geckos feed on nectar from flowers, such as pohutukawa. As they move from flower to flower, pollen rubs onto their chins, and it is shared between plants, This helps to fertilize them. Geckos have broad plates on the underside of their toes. Each plate has millions of tiny hairs with an electromagnetic force to help them cling to smooth surfaces. People have tried to mimic geckos' amazing sticky feet. Products using 'gecko skin' technology include adhesives, sport cloves, rock climbing equipment, and high-grip car tires.

Jewelled Gecko- The color and pattern of a jewelled gecko varies more than any other New Zealand gecko. This vibrant gecko ranges from green to brown- often with white, yellow or purple markings. The jeweled gecko is found in isolated pockets across the Canterbury and Otago regions of the South Island. Jewelled geckos face many threats. Their shrub and tussock habitats are being destroyed, they're killed by introduced predators, and they are poached for sale on the international black market. Fun fact- unlike skinks, geckos do not blink. They lick their eyes to clean them. Also, geckos have tiny hair-like fibers on their feet. This allows them to grip and climb smooth, vertical surfaces.

Jewelled Gecko

Rough Gecko- The rough, or rough-scaled, gecko is only found in the Kaikoura Ranges, on the South Island's east coast. Its name refers to the rough texture of protruding scales on parts of its body. Females are usually green, but males are often grey. Rough geckos are most active during the day, living in manuka scrub and forests. They have slender toes and very long, finely tapered tails to help them grasp tree branches when climbing. They can even hang by their tails if needed.

Rough Gecko

Introduced Wasps- New Zealand has some of the highest concentration of wasps in the world. It's mild climate and abundant food supply provide the ideal environment for wasp populations to explode. The Australian paper wasp came to New Zealand in the 1880s, followed by the German wasp, which arrived with airplane parts shipped here after World War II. The common wasp and Asian paper wasp arrived in the 1970s. Wasps are a problem for many reasons. Introduced wasps prey on native insects in such large numbers that they can wipe out whole communities in one breeding season. Wasps also eat small animals and can even kill newly hatched birds. They damage crops, prey on bee larvae, and compete for food with native animals. In the forests of the South Island, wasps deprive native birds, bats, and lizards of an essential food source- the honeydew produced by a native scale insect in beech forests. New Zealand takes it biosecurity very seriously because of the terrible damage caused by accidental import like wasps. Common and German wasps reach their highest numbers in beech forests. During peak season, the biomass of wasps in these areas can be higher than the mass of all native birds and introduced mammals put together! Wasps can be controlled in a few ways. Poisoned bait is widely used, but it is only effective for one season because new queen wasps create more colonies the following year. The Stout Trust, founded in 1982 through the will of Dr. Stout, supports important research into the control of introduced wasps in New Zealand. Researchers are studying ways to get rid of them via parasites, however, it is a long slow process to develop agents that will attack exotic wasps but not harm the indigenous wildlife.

Asian Paper Wasp

Orange-fronted Parakeet (Kakariki)- This little kakariki was once found in many parts of the South Island. Today it is critically endangered, with a total population of just over 200. Nesting high in beech trees, they feed mainly on seeds. When the beech trees 'mast', producing plenty of seeds, these kakariki thrive. Unfortunately, rats and stoats also benefit, eating the sense and the kakariki. Orange-fronted kakariki have been bred in captivity and released on several rest-free islands, while ongoing works aims to protect the species in their mainland habitat.

Orange-fronted Parakeet (Kakariki)

There are many simple ways you can help to protect the wildlife of the high country. You can avoid spreading didymo (invasive freshwater algae) by cleaning your shoes, fishing gear, and boating equipment after contact with freshwater rivers and streams. You should reduce the impact of climate change by using less electricity, petrol, and plastics. Lastly, you can grow native plants to encourage native birds into your garden. Leave some rocks and logs around for lizards and insects to live under.

Didymo

Conservation:

The Kea Conservation Trust was set up in 2006 to assist in conservation of wild kea in their natural habitat and to increase the standards and advocacy potential of those kea held in captive facilities within New Zealand. The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund is supporting three kea conservation initiatives through the Kea Conservation Trust- a catch trip to attach transmitters and bands to adults and bands to adults and bands to fledging and juveniles, monitoring kea nest productivity and predator impact, and a kea survey that will provide a baseline for local kea population in Matukituki Valley in Mount Aspiring National Park. The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund has also supported the trial of non-toxic surfactant bird repellents, to deter kea from interacting with pest control bait delivery trap systems.

Auckland Zoo is supporting predator control and ongoing monitoring to reduce predator impacts on the western population of Otago skink, endemic to Otago and listed as Nationally Critical. Auckland Zoo's initial investment established a network of traps to provide protection to previously unprotected Western populations, which were thought to be dangerously close to catastrophic collapse and extinction. 

The rough gecko is one of nine species of green gecko and is listed as Nationally Vulnerable- the highest threat category assigned to a green gecko species. The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund is funding (over three years) a targeted survey for rough gecko, to determine its distribution, threats, management options and conservation status.