Hey, I just happened upon this amazing website. the only thing I would say is lacking is enough coverage of kahu, the NZ hawk.
It is after all, by far the most intelligent, amazing, beautiful, and dynamic NZ bird but seems to be under-represented here. Is there a reason for this?
Don't you guys do one of those "bird of the year" comps. I would love to see the kahu nominated in that.
Would also love to hear any feedback from others about this amazing bird!
Forest & Bird » Other
What a bird!!!
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Intelligent, yes, but not as intelligent as our kea - look at this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRW4ztbY8Ok
Bet the hawk couldn't pass any of those tests.....
Posted 2 years ago # -
Intelligence, yes..But Kahu is a bit macho for my liking. I'd push for something a bit more agile and subtle. Something like, oh I don't know...um...the fernbird, Matata. Now there's a stunner! A true surviver...We destroy most of his wetland habitat, and he still appears even right in the middle of our country's biggest city, and right next to a really really busy motorway as that. He doesn't wander round the tarmac waiting to be hit by oncoming traffic. He snuggles down and hides from danger in any remaining habitat he can find - and find it he does. He doesn't fly huge distances, but far enough to settle and survive in new territories...I like that sort of cunning adaptation. Survival of the fittest and all that...
Now Matata deserves a nomination for the Bird of the Year competition that F&B is running again I hope...
Good luck with your campaigning for Kahu, Tom...8-), here comes the challenge!Posted 2 years ago # -
Watch this space for Bird of the Year voting opening very shortly - then we'll see whether kahu, kea, fernbird or whatever is NZ's favourite bird. Kakapo won last year; this year, who knows?
Posted 2 years ago # -
You just have to say that last bit to appear kind. We all know who's going to win!! All the birds just by virtue of being there...But I guess one has to reign supreme! We'll start putting out the red carpet for you-know-who right now...
Posted 2 years ago # -
As for intelligence, how's about this for smart?:
"The Maori, according to Elsdon Best, called the fernbird Toetoe, Kukurutoki, or Mata and looked upon it as manu tohu, a wise bird, the cries of which contained warnings of coming events, of future success or ill fortune. Its ordinary cry of Te, te, te, does not appear to have contained a message, but when it cries Kore ti, kore ti, then all know it is a puhore; whatever project may be on hand at the time will be a failure. When the cry changes to Tori ki, toro ki, toro ki, kuri, kuri, then know it is a token of good fortune". (http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/matata.html)Nothing better than pre-hand knowledge and whether a planned project is worth following through or not.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Auckland Anne, really, if your case for a bird is that it doesn't wait around the tarmac waiting to be hit by oncomign traffic, it is quite frankly ridiculous. I'm sure though the Matata does have other endearing qualities.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm impressed by how the fernbird in this area has avoided the threats of a hugely-used main motorway passing right smack-bang in the middle of Auckland and running right next to an area fernbird still lives in (Pollen Island by the NW motorway), with thousands of cars zooming past him each day, even though he doesn't fly far. That's not ridiculous, that's pretty darned adaptive I reckon to have avoided them all! "I'm not hanging around here, I'm outta here pronto, to live another day"...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Kahu is a great iconic bird and I can see why people absolutely admire them. However I tend to strongly agree with Anne too that this endemic and once widespread and abundant native bird, the Matata, deserves far far more exposure, urgently.
It's not just about a bird, it's about raising the awarness of the wetland envrionment that they live in, which has made them suffered from loss of natural habitat caused by rapid changing environment ever since 1800s. Farming, chemical spraying and burning.... the Matata can not escape. Huge amount of remaining lakes and wetlands nowadays are degraded. Many have suffered the effects of fertiliser runoff from surrounding farmland.
Shining the torch on fernbird for once could attract more attention on wetland protection and restoration. This was never seen as glamous as the Kauri forest regenerating, Kakapo breeding, Kiwi monitoring, Kakako releasing etc, for the obvious reason. But these mushy dirty looking wetlands actually play a critically important part in our everyday lives as they filter farmland nutrients before they reach rivers and lakes, or filter stormwater drainage before they reach our harbours therefore improve the water quality for both us people as well as for the birds.
Fernbird for "Bird of the Year" so we can attract more attention on wetland restorations.
Posted 2 years ago # -
And POLLEN ISLAND - shame on DoC and Transit: where is the signpost???!!! This is the only marine reserve in the middle of our largest city (one of the only four marine reserves in the greater Auckland region, and probably the rarest case in the entire developed countires), is a happy home for some good population of the endangered fernbirds. Hundreds of thousands of us are so lucky to travel through this unique marine reserve environment everyday to work in the city - but hardly anyone notices it simply because where is the signpost like any martine reserve, regional/national park?! This is more than just a ugly motorway, we still have it today is because some very hard working people at F&B actually fought their hearts out decades ago to preserve this piece of precous jewel in the Waitamata harbour from ports development. And today how many of your neighbours or friends actually know about Pollen Island, let along the fernbirds.
Let's put some spotlight on this iconic nz bird before it's too late (Chatham Island fernbird has extincted). Fernbird for "Bird of the Year"!! We need a fernbird picture on SH16 along the marine reserve so people can be educated!!!
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Pollen-Island-223(2).jpg (53.5 KB, 0 downloads) 2 years old
Posted 2 years ago # -
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Posted 2 years ago #
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I dunno, it is going to be a challenge getting the public to vote for a bird that most people haven't even heard of.
That fernbird is going to need one hell of a good marketing plan!Posted 2 years ago # -
Naysayer.
Posted 2 years ago # -
This bird has the sympathy vote truly on it's side. It represents all those unsexy or uncool kakapo, kea, hawk, kokako, albatross, kiwi out there. The ones that are as common as muck in the media, and get all the funding and attention. I noticed in last year's BOTY that the 'other' category actually got more votes than the winner, so all you people out there who vote for 'other', all vote for fernbird this time round as being the token bird representing all the poor downtrodden small unglamourous and poorly-funded birds...Strength in solidarity, comrad....8-)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Well I was going to vote Kukupa of course, but that Fernbird is one sexy little bird!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Too right! Top dog on the catwalk, that bird. Eat yer heart out Tyra Banks.
Posted 2 years ago # -
A week to go to Bird of the Year liftoff, and counting. Some excellent entries on the blog, BTW. A bit of an overkill of "K" birds though..kakapo, kea, kakariki, kahu, kukupa kokako...And a number counting on their good-looks to pull them through..But as someone has asked, what's their view on world peace. Looks aren't everything, we're always being told. So put your money where your mouth is on that one everyone. Vote fernbird!! Definitely the contest's wild card draw!! Let's pull another grey warbler type victory from the hat!! (grey warbler won Bird of the Year in 2007)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Looks aren't everything???
My nephew said he wasn't going to vote for "Helen Shark" because he didn't like her teeth!
So maybe the kukupa will win it?!
I heard the first pīpīwharauroa (shining cuckoo) 3 days ago! Spring is hear! move over grey warbler!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Well, according to Jeremy in the blog about spoonbill deserving to win, it's having two O's gives it mana, so if that's the case, kukupa with two K's and two U's makes an invincible case!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
The Matata deserves more exposure? what about the FAIRY TERN!!
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=yprf9E1wBdY
Posted 2 years ago # -
Posted 2 years ago #
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The little birds are slaying those big-bird-names in BOTY.
Incredible voting numbers compared to previous years - and it's only the second day!! Congratulations - you've obviously hit on a subject and a way of promoting conservation that people like
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think the birds (in the poll) should be randomly sorted automatically so that all birds get be first in the list at some point (in theory). Just a thought.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'd love to give all the birds a spot at the top but unfortunately the back-end system doesn't allow for this. Thanks for the suggestion though. Cheers! Mandy
Posted 2 years ago # -
TNEK...yeah the power of the fernbird in the road-building game!!
ALPURT set the standards to follow
http://www.northerngateway.co.nz/images/documents/Alpurt%20News%20Issue%203.pdf
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yaaaaay the morepork!!!
Not usually one for the feathered variety me but I am pretty happy lil' ol big eyes is leading the real battle - the race for 2nd place is on!!
OR .... am I underestimating the floods of fellow morepork lovers out there yet to cast their vote? Perhaps too preoccupied relaxing back with a glass in hand listening in the quiet for the comforting hoot eminating from the black of night? Ahhhhhhhhh..... :)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Here comes the kiwi...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hey, heard now in the news about the plans for expansion of SH16 in Auckland, the motorway that passes right through the Motu Manawa marine reserve that F&B applied for and it was gazetted in 1995. ? Fernbird habitat!! All those people are losing their homes, and so might the fernbird there if we don't raise the issue loud and clear.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Save the fernbirds and their friends!!
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- Pollen_Island_2.jpg (67.4 KB, 0 downloads) 2 years old
Posted 2 years ago # -
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WOOT WOOT!! I saw a fern bird yesterday about two meters from my vege garden! :-)
Posted 2 years ago #
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