2018 New Zealand - Day 3 Auckland / Tiritiri Matangi
A bit of an earlier start today to get to the ferry terminal in time for the 9:30am sailing to Tiritiri Matangi.
The day's health statistics: walking 10.6km, flights climbed 27.
Tiritiri Matangi Island is a scientific reserve, and a wildlife sanctuary. New Zealand's island sanctuaries help to ensure the survival of many rare and endangered plant and animal species. They are especially valuable because they are easier to keep predator-free than mainland area.
Ferry crossing takes 75 minutes and then guided walks take over. You can do it on your own but unless you are a bird expert you're going to miss out. My guide was Bruce who said he was a newbie as he has only been a Tiritiri Volunteer Guide for 6 months (in his words "others have been guiding for centuries"). In our small group: me, a Bostonian, and 2 Germans; we had a perfect guided walk size.
The island itself has wonderfully maintained trails and flora that is rebounding beautifully. Now it is regaining and supporting common and rare birdlife. With the arrivals of Europeans in the mid 1850s farming took over and pretty much de-forested the island which led to the die off of rare less resilient birdlife. Finally in the 1970s the farming leases were not renewed and the various academic and volunteer activities commenced to take us to the present day sanctuary.
PLEASE correct the if I've gotten any of the birds identified incorrectly.
Tui (Parson Bird)
The day's health statistics: walking 10.6km, flights climbed 27.
Tiritiri Matangi Island is a scientific reserve, and a wildlife sanctuary. New Zealand's island sanctuaries help to ensure the survival of many rare and endangered plant and animal species. They are especially valuable because they are easier to keep predator-free than mainland area.
Ferry crossing takes 75 minutes and then guided walks take over. You can do it on your own but unless you are a bird expert you're going to miss out. My guide was Bruce who said he was a newbie as he has only been a Tiritiri Volunteer Guide for 6 months (in his words "others have been guiding for centuries"). In our small group: me, a Bostonian, and 2 Germans; we had a perfect guided walk size.
PLEASE correct the if I've gotten any of the birds identified incorrectly.
Auckland to Island arrival
Black Back Gull - nesting (not endangered)
Yellowhead
New Zealand Plover (nesting)
Wrybill
Variable Oystercatcher (with and without chicks)
Coastline scenery
 |
| Iconic New Zealand Silver Fern |
Tui (Parson Bird)
Morepork - New Zealand Spotted Owl
North Island Saddleback
North Island Robin (and yes I'm amazed they exist without red colouration)
New Zealand Pigeon
Return to Auckland
