NEW ZEALAND BIRDS

Nathaniel Smith

Five years ago, I moved from England to New Zealand, a big and scary move with a lot of change. One change I have grown to love is the plethora of unique birds which call New Zealand home. Ever since I bought my camera, I have been obsessed with documenting the behaviours of as many of these species as I can.For example, the Kea is not just the only alpine parrot in the world but also one of its smartest birds. The Takahē is a flightless swamp hen and the world’s largest living rail. The Whio are an ancient species of waterfowl that are one of the only duck species worldwide to live year-round on fast flowing rivers. And that is just to name a few of the many amazing birds that are found here in New Zealand.

However, the sanctity of these avian populations faces a perennial threat. Invasive predators such as stoats, ferrets, possums, and rats have caused their numbers to decline. Many birds, like the famous kiwi, have either evolved to be weak at flying or entirely lack the ability to fly, making them easy targets. Endeavours to eliminate these predators include widespread deployment of traps, but the saving of these majestic birds necessitates more collective action. Many of the birds that do fly, however, are thriving. The Tui, a beautiful songbird, is not only a common back garden sight in New Zealand but also plays a large role in the seed dispersal of many endangered native plants. In the future, I plan to step up my game in the conservation of New Zealand’s birds and document the rife predatory problem. Spreading awareness is the first step!

This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 17.