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 One of New Zealands' many threatened bird species, the takahe. This is Mr Blue on Tiritiri Matangi Island checking out my camera equipment | New Zealand is a land of birds and lizards. Any mammals that live here (other than two species of native bat and the sea-mammals) are introduced. Most of the native birds are unique and endemic to New Zealand. The takahe (Notornis mantelli) looks like a bigger, fatter version of the pukeko (Porphyrio porphyrio known as the purple swamphen in other parts of the world). The takahe were thought to be extinct, but rediscovered 50 years ago. They are still quite rare, confined to one area of the Murchison Mountains, a captive breeding programme, and relocated to some offshore islands. Meeting one in person is a treat. |
| There are 3 species of parrot and 5 species of parakeet in New Zealand. The rarest parrot, the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) with just over 50 individuals left, is also the heaviest parrot in the world. I was thrilled recently to have the opportunity to meet two kakapo, Heather and Wendy, while helping DoC (the Department of Conservation). If the photo's work out I'll put some here on this page. I've also met kaka (on Little Barrier and Kapiti Islands) and kea in the mountains. Rosella (introduced from Australia) fly around in my back yard, and I've seen red-crowned parakeets on Little Barrier Island. Kiwi's (not a parrot species, but our national emblem) feel very plastic, because their feather are mostly rachis (the stiff support) with very little to "feather". The larger kiwi species are also incredibly noisy. They can sound just like an human adult crashing through the bush |  Kaka, especially around the bunk house of Little Barrier Island, are very curious birds and will definitely come to check you out |