Ulva Open Sanctuary In some of my previous posts and certainly in future posts Ulva Islandwhere I work as a guidewill be mentioned. It occurs to me that people may be a bit unsure of just what, where and why Ulva is so important as asanctuary. So I have reposted below part of an article […]
Author: Peter Tait
Peter Tait is a professional nature guide based at Stewart Island, New Zealand, and he works primarily on Ulva Island Open Sanctuary. Peter has been resident on the Island for over 40 years and was one time Forest Ranger in Charge of Stewart Island. Fishing followed forestry and was in turn followed by Talisker, a 17m charter yacht. He is qualified Skipper Deep Sea Fishing Vessel. In addition to guiding Peter and his wife Iris are hosts at Sails Ashore Lodge.
Weka, Gallirallus australis scotti
Weka (Woodhen) – Weka, note the beak. I have seen one dispatch a large rat with a single strike Spend anytime in New Zealand forest and you will surely come across a weka. Flightless, agressivly omniverous and forever hungry they are the “wide boys” on our forest floors. Insects and forest invertibrates are their “bread […]
Stewart Island Robin, Petroica australis rakiura
Stewart Island Robin, (toutouwai) Stewart Island Robin [flowplayer src=’https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/robin-lead-in.mp4′ width=640 height=480 splashend=show splash=’https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/si0067.jpg’ autoplay=false] Stewart Island Robins are yet another New Zealand species to have suffered the depradations of introduced rats. Nesting as they do so close to or even on the ground, their habit of just dropping the fecal sac over the side of […]
Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae)
Morepork, (Ruru) morepork New Zealand has, or rather had only two native owls. Sadly the Laughing Owl is almost certainly extinct, although a few dedicated enthusiasts still search hopefully. Our other native is the Morepork, or Ruru. Both names refect its quite distinctive call. Morepork are common on Stewart Island and we see them quite […]
Tui, (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
One of our common local natives is the Tui. Its highly sheened blue, almost green plumage, signature white throat feathers, which incidentally gives it the occasional name of Parson Bird and rounded out with fine filigree white feathers almost like a lace shawl over black shoulders makes Tui quite easily identified. Tui are superb songsters […]
Kaka (Nestor meriodionalis)
Stewart Island, New Zealand morning kaka New Zealand has only 3 parrot species, and all have characteristics which make each quite unique. On Stewart Island we miss out on the Kea, or Alpine Parrot, and the Kakapo is found only on Codfish Island off the North West Coast of the Island. It is extremly rare, […]
White Faced Heron, Stewart Island, New Zealand
First Post This is the first of a series of posts I hope to make about the birds we see around our village of Oban (Stewart Island, New Zealand, not the Scottish Oban !!). My name is Peter Tait, and with my wife Iris operate a homestay and nature guiding business on Stewart Island. You […]