1Dec 18, 2012
As the temperatures gradually get warmer, we aren’t the only ones thinking about hopping into our local river. A small, yet spectacularly attractive little native fish called the redfin bully uses this time of year to make the move from the sea to fresh water. The redfin bully is usually a freshwater fish but they […]
2Dec 7, 2012
This summer, keen mollusc-o-philes may be interested in taking advantage of the warmer weather, and getting out and meeting some lesser-known local bivalves. While the kākahi or freshwater mussel may look humble, it has some pretty interesting life history traits. While most mussels expel eggs and sperm for external fertilisation in the water, a mother […]
3Dec 3, 2012
The kakapo has been pinned with many adjectives. Shy, frisky, curious and romantic are ones that crop up most often, however one that is noticeably absent from the usual list of descriptors is ‘gloriously perfumed’. The cover of darkness means that fabulously coloured plumage will go unnoticed by potential mates. So instead it smells. Great. […]
4Nov 16, 2012
Healthy lakes and rivers are surely something that virtually every New Zealander cares about. New Zealanders use freshwater in many ways… for instance as a source of kai, to irrigate a crop, to turn the turbines of a power station, or to partake in their favourite sport. As a result, it’s not easy to get […]
5Nov 13, 2012
Equipped with a pair of large pink over-sized feet and a fleshy bill designed to prise algae from rocks, Blue ducklings make a dash for independence earlier than most birds. After they’re two days old, they’ll begin their lifelong task of looking for food on our frothy alpine rivers –stripping rocks of algae and catching […]
6Nov 2, 2012
It is the beginning of tadpole season and if there are frogs in your neighbourhood you should starting to hear their raucous calling. The frogs you will be hearing though are all Aussies brought here in the latter half of the 19th century. The endemic Leiopelma species do not use calls to attract mates – […]
7Oct 30, 2012
Whitebaiting is an iconic part of life that most New Zealanders take for granted, but this traditional harvest is now threatened by the damage we have wrought for a century or more on our waterways, but particularly in the last few decades with intensification of dairy farming. We have doubled the number of dairy cows […]
8Oct 15, 2012
The New Zealand falcon (kārearea) has finally soared to success as Bird of the Year in Forest & Bird’s eighth annual poll but what makes this bird such an admired and respected high flyer? “My bird, by power of charm arising, in the glance of an eye, like the sparrowhawk, by this charm shall my […]
9Oct 2, 2012
Spring has sprung and already many native birds like tui, grey warblers, and fantails are getting ready to mate and build nests now. For native bird numbers to increase they need to be able to nest in peace. Night time studies have shown rats and possums harassing native birds to the point of exhaustion then […]