Trip reports

New Zealand North Island

Friday, 16 January 2009

This bird in the photo is the Takahe, a flightless rail which can get up to 4Kg in weight. Flightless and feeding on water crustacea it is prey to introduced stoats and it's food supply to introduced trout. John Wilson's tour of this part of NewZealand showed us not only the stunning scenery, volcanic hotspots and the endemic and introduced wildlife but also the effects of man's presence. The birds were many and varied from the small fairy tern to the huge wandering albatross. From the huge Pohutukawa tree to the small fungi. John's talk was a a moving account because he used a camcorder and sound rather than the more usual digital stills to give us a great impression of this Island. The talk was thoroughly enjoyed by all there.