The New Zealand parakeet. Its known by its Māori name of kākāriki, meaning ‘small green parrot’. There are five main species of kākāriki: Yellow-crowned parakeet, Orange-fronted parakeet, Red-crowned parakeet
Forbes’ parakeet and Antipodes Island parakeet.
Mitochondrial DNA analysis has indicated that the orange-fronted parakeet is a separate species and not just a colour variation of the yellow-crowned parakeet. The orange-fronted parakeet is highly endangered, with less than 200 individuals remaining in the North Canterbury region of the South Island.
Kōkako are endangered forest birds which are endemic to New Zealand. There are two sub-species of Kōkako, the North Island Kōkako and the South Island Kōkako. Kōkako declines were undoubtedly caused by forest clearance, and the introduction of predators.
In Māori myth, it was the Kōkako that gave Maui water as he fought the sun. The kōkako filled its wattles with water and brought it to Maui. His thirst quenched, Maui rewarded the kōkako by making its legs long and slender, enabling the bird to bound through the forest with ease in search of food.
The fantail (Maori name: Piwakawaka) is one of New Zealand’s best known birds, as it is one of the few native bird species in New Zealand that has been able to adapt to an environment greatly altered by humans.
In Maori mythology, the piwakawaka is a messenger, bringing news of death from the gods to the people.
The Eastern Great Egret is a white heron, it is common in Australia, the South Pacific and Asia. In New Zealand, where it is known as the kōtuku, and highly endangered, with only one breeding site at Okarito Lagoon. The species is protected in Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
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