The New Zealand Experience 2007
To the Kiwi House, Otorohanga, North Island                  www.kiwihouse.org.nz
We travelled down from Auckland to Otorohanga. The Kiwi House and native bird park in Otorohanga, New Zealand is owned and operated by the Otorohanga Zoological Society, Inc.: A non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of New Zealand's native wildlife through education, display and breeding programs. After the Kiwi House we drove west, then north to Raglan, to meet Laura's first rowing coach Zara who emigrated three years ago.

Here's a selection from the visit, unfortunately I do not know the species of all the birds but I hope you like the pictures.

This was our first real view of the beauty of the North Island as the road from Auckland is quite urban for the first part south.

 

This was one of the kiwis. They only come out in the dark and sleep for about 20hrs a day. Very hard to photo but cute beastie though!

A pukeko or swamp hen is the common swamp inhabitant in New Zealand. Feeding mainly on insects and plant stems which it can hold in its claws.     A good old fashioned kingfisher. No doubt brought over from Europe at some point.

The New Zealand pidgeon is fully protected. This large, distinctive coloured bird, with its heavy flight and swooshing of wings, can be found throughout NZ, although it is mainly restricted to native bush.

 

Red Crowned Parakeet. A small parrot, about the size of a Blackbird, with rapid wing beat, swift straight flight and a chattering call mainly when in flight. This one was a real poser!! 

The scenery improved as we headed west towards the coast, looking to take the coastal road to Raglan. More and more we could be in Cumbria.   The comparison with the Lake District goes on and on - Oh joy!

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