Miraz Jordan

The takahē is a very cool bird. Of only 418 in the world two live on Kāpiti Island. They’re big (about 3 Kg) and were thought extinct for 50 years.

the largest living rail in the world.

The population stood at 263 at the beginning of 2013. … In 2019, it increased to 418.

After a weekend of wandering the trails on Kāpiti Island looking for birds I find today I need a rest. Here are a Korimako (Bellbird) and a Toutouwai (North Island Robin).

North Island Robins are so obliging. They come down to the track to get the insects you disturb by walking around. They’re bold and they stick around.

When the bird you’re trying to get a photo of is high in a tree so you’re craning your neck for a while, it’s easy to lose your balance afterwards. It’s hard to see, but this is a little native Whitehead. I’ve never seen one before.

Can you see Australia? Me either. It’s over there somewhere though, several thousand kilometers away. Taken on today’s walk to the top of a loop track at the north end of Kapiti Island.

The bird life on the Kapiti Island Nature Reserve is phenomenal. That’s what can happen when predators are removed. The forest is loud when native birds are allowed to flourish. We heard Little Spotted Kiwi in the night.

This Kereru sat quietly on an eye level branch about a metre away from me. They’re large and beautiful birds which live about 4km from us at home but haven’t made it to Waikawa Beach itself.

Luckily it’s a warm day for a trip to Kapiti Island. The boat ride took 10 minutes.

On Kapiti Island the hills are covered with bush and there are so many birds! This weka was hanging round the picnic table.

Looking south from our deck we can see the neighbour’s house, and the hill that marks the boundary between Horowhenua and Kāpiti. Apart from the green lupins, everything is brown because of the recent warmth and the ongoing dry.