Page 31 - Waterfall Issue 5 2021

programme to three predator-free
isolated islands off the coast.

This charismatic, endemic, plump,
nocturnal parrot is, although flightless,
able, through its strong legs and
reduced wings, to forage in the tree
Kaka (AR) New Zealand Pigeon (AR)
tops (30m up). It makes one of the
loudest sounds of any bird (it can be
heard 5km away), has a lifespan of up
to 90 years, weighs 2 – 4kg and has
an owl-like appearance (prominent
facial disc), accounting for its scientific
name, Strigops habroptilus.

Breeding is extraordinarily slow, they
lay only one or two eggs per clutch. It
takes nine years to reach maturity and
it is totally dependent for breeding
Tui (AR) Stewart Island NZ Tomtit (AR)
success upon the abundance of the
fruit of podocarp trees which only
occurs on average every six years.
With a decline in population to 50 in
1995, extinction seemed imminent
but due to the committed and
dedicated efforts of the DOC, the next
12 years saw an increase in numbers
to 86. In the following 12 years, there
was another relatively spectacular
increase in the population to a record
213 individuals in September 2019.
New Zealand Fantail (AR) Bellbird (AR)
Needless to say, this species also
The final day of our Stewart Island rain and wind into the afternoon qualified for the book referred to earlier
birding visit was to be a pelagic trip dictated a period of slumber as it is considered to be amongst the
out into Foveaux Strait. Our boat and relaxation for our somewhat most extraordinary birds on earth.
skipper, Bruce, arrived at an early jaded and disappointed group.
hour in pouring rain. The weather A fantastic final dinner of scrumptious
deteriorated further as we departed Despite no sighting or even effort Blue Cod and chips seemed an
into the Strait, moving from island to see this bird, no birding narrative appropriate end to a highly enjoyable
to island amongst the Muttonbird on a trip to Stewart Island would be and successful short sojourn on
Islands in search of birds in extremely complete without a short reference Stewart Island. The next morning, we
choppy seas. A solitary, rather glum- to a bird historically resident on the were collected by Bruce for our ferry
looking Fiordland (Crested) Penguin, island which, in my view, deserves ride back across the Foveaux Strait to
forlornly standing on the shore, a Pied special mention – and that is the Bluff. Pelagic birding on the return trip
Shag and the unusual discovery of story of the Kakapo, the world’s only was excellent, as was the weather, with
a Southern Giant Petrel feeding out flightless Parrot. Originally widespread Shy and Salvin’s Mollymawks, Fairy
at sea on a dead seal provided some on the mainland, the species was Prion, hundreds of Sooty Shearwaters
compensation for the weather which very rare (critically endangered) and and a solitary Buller’s Shearwater,
had by then deteriorated to the point on the brink of extinction when a Common Diving Petrels and a single
where Bruce abandoned the trip small population of about 80 were Snares (Cape) Petrel recorded. Once
and headed for shore. Surprisingly, discovered in the forests of Stewart united with our campervan, it was time
only one of our family experienced Island. These last-remaining wild birds for some shopping in Invercargill.
some slight discomfort from our were immediately captured by the DOC
boat trip but the continuation of and relocated as part of a breeding Look out for part 2 in June’s edition.

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