Gymnorhina tibicen immature,
Tiritiri Matangi Island (near Auckland),
New Zealand

The island, just under one square mile in area, was used by people for many years but is now a massive conservation project. We were guided by amazing young birder, naturalist, & photographer Oscar Thompson.

Tags:   Pied Magpie Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen Tiritiri Matangi Island

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Eudyptula minor,
In human-made rock burrow (with removable cap allowing this view through a glass top),
Tiritiri Matangi Island (near Auckland),
New Zealand

The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the smallest species of penguin, growing to an average of 33 cm (13 in) in height and 43 cm (17 in) in length. --Wikipedia

The adults mostly come ashore in the evening and we did not see one.

The island, just under one square mile in area, was used by people for many years but is now a massive conservation project. We were guided by amazing young birder, naturalist, & photographer, Oscar Thompson.

Tags:   Eudyptula minor Little Penguin Little Blue Penguin Little Penguin chick Little Blue Penguin chick Tiritiri Matangi Island

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Tiritiri Matangi Island (near Auckland),
New Zealand

This species is "the most successful intertidal fucoid [brown algae] in the southern hemisphere . . ."-European Journal of Phycology

This specimen was more bumpy and less round than most we saw. Others reminded me of the plastic pop-bead necklace my sister had when we were young.

Tags:   Hormosira banksii Neptune's Necklace Neptune's Pearls Sea Grapes Tiritiri Matangi Island Brown Algae

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Petroica longipes, endemic to the north island of New Zealand,
Tiritiri Matangi Island (near Auckland),
New Zealand

While not a remarkable photo of this small bird, I show it to emphasize the proximity we could have with the birds on this island. Humans have been on the island for well over a century, yet the bird life evolved over millions of years without mammalian predators.

Tags:   North Island robin Petroica longipes Tiritiri Matangi Island

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Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, a New Zealand endemic,
Tiritiri Matangi Island (near Auckland),
New Zealand

We heard the musical notes of this species often, but seldom saw the bird out in the open. They eat nectar, so this feeder drew them out.

I'm guessing that the following comment about New Zealand bird song could be attributable to the Tui: "the most melodius wild musick I have ever heard."-Joseph Banks

Tags:   Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae Tiritiri Matangi Island

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