The trip to Tiritiri Matangi, attempt number two, was successful! The first trip was canceled due to a high wind advisory. No high winds on this trip, just high spirits. This island is a New Zealand success story. It had been logged out and converted to pasture. This huge pressure on the native species and they were all wiped out on this island. But the farmer's lease expired in the 70's and the last lightkeeper floated a new idea to some like minded friends. The concept was to re-wild the island. The idea was well received and the hard work began. Native plants and trees were reintroduced. The soils that were compacted over the decades by the grazing livestock had to be worked to allow new growth. This extra effort was required to allow the newly planted trees a chance to take root. The mammal predators had to be removed. Rats, weasels and possums had been introduced either intentionally or unintentionally and they were too much for the birds, reptiles and insects of New Zealand to withstand. It is estimated that over 50 species of birds have become extinct since man has settled the area. Once the predators from Tiritiri Matangi were gone, the birds could come back. There are several species that they have reintroduced and almost all of them are thriving.
We got a great seat on the ferry and we never lost sight of land. There were seabirds swooping and diving here and there. That was great fun to watch. We stopped to pick up some volunteers and then we were at the island. They split the people into two groups. The 2.5 hour hike and the 1.5 hour hike. We wanted the 1.5 hour hike and it was the right choice as 75% of the people took the other trail. We wondered if any birds would still be around by the time the last big group who walked past. But on the path less traveled we saw wildlife at every step. Jill was our volunteer tour guide and we she was great! The 7 of us kept up a slow pace and the tour took 2 hours anyway. We saw every bird on the "informative sign post" and I got pictures of most of them. We got to the top of the hill where the lighthouse is located and had our lunch. The lighthouse was made in the UK of cast iron and shipped to the island. The site was difficult to work with and they had to dig down over 12 feet of soft soil to find any ground solid enough to support the lighthouse. This was the first lighthouse built by the NZ government and is the oldest lighthouse still in operation. We could not climb up inside but we were able to climb the lookout tower where we were greeted by Mike. Mike was a good old boy and we had fun bantering back and forth. He tried to lure Leslie away from me (who wouldn't) but she stood fast by my side. When we talked about Leslie's impending left hand driving he agreed that it was a good thing for her to be driving. After all, women have the the vote now, so why not! We were in the gift shop and I asked about the Takahe bird, a big rare bird that is found up by the lighthouse. They gave me some directions and as I went off to look I saw Mike again and he took me around a corner and we found three Takahe birds. There are only 400 or so in existence so I will not get another chance to see one in the wild. Leslie stayed behind to use the facilities and right next to the outhouse another group of Takahe walked by her. So neither of us missed out. We took our time heading back down hill and saw more birds along the way. 23 total bird species sighted for the day and 13 are new to me! The ride back was a bit rough and low clouds rolled in. We picked up dinner at the Kebab place and got home just before the rain hit.
Shoes all clean and ready to board
Sunny day and sunny girl
A decent ferry to ride
The calm waters of the harbor
The building on the right on this pier is where we are staying
An Australasian Gannet
Extreme sailing
Another lighthouse
Seharwater birds
A big rock that looks like a penguin
Time to pick up the volunteers
Billions of dollars of yachts
Shakespeare's point is well on its way to be predator free
Lush and green
An ariel shot of the island completely cleared off
In 1984 the replanting began
It was already looking good 7 years ago
Team Jill about to ascend the hill
Bell Bird, hear the songs below
This plant releases a numbing agent when the leaves are eaten by bugs. The Māori used it for pain relief from tooth aches and such.
The bell bird puffs up when they sing
An elusive Kokako with blue wattles under its chin
The New Zealand Robin had teeny tiny legs
Thick vegative cover
The cabbage tree releases a phenome that attracts a fungus. The fungus then eats the center of the tree leaving the tough outer bark that was used for chimney pipes. It does not burn.
The cabbage tree
The Tui was very territorial, no other birds allowed
A sample nest box
With fake eggs and everything
A giant Weta insect as big as your hand! It is very slow and needed help in recovering.
It looked alive but is still a mystery, might be a fungus
The tunnel at Jill's feet has an inkpad and paper to document the footprints of any animal that walks through the tunnel
There are gecko tracks
The North Island Saddleback with red wattles
The New Zealand Wood Pigeon. It's head seem small but it is just the angle
This shows what can be done by a dedicated group of concerned people
The silver fern, New Zealand's symbol
The silver fern is silvery on the bottom and green on the top
Moths use this tree to make their burrows. They live inside on a fungal garden and emerge after seven years to mate and lay eggs.
Solar panels to power the light house
1865, one hundred fifty eight years ago
23 meters high
Looking out from the watchtower
Barometric pressure
Seafarer's memorabilia
On the ceiling was this compass that rotated with the wind direction
Built in Great Britain and reassembled in New Zealand
Mike is the watchtower watcher
We watched this tree as we ate our lunch.
What a beautiful setting
A gecko with a tracking collar
Banding the Kiwi birds. The are nocturnal and very shy so we are unlikely to see any of them
The Tui is a beautiful bird
No railings so stay on the path
Success! A very rare bird indeed
The South Island Takahe, its North Island counterpart is extinct. These birds were sent here to breed and repopulate the species.
The next ridgetop over
A better view of the New Zealand Pigeon
A Red Crowned Parakeet
A non-native brown quail
Fungi
The Brown Teal
A nest built for little blue penguins
The sign is a bit worse for wear
But the plexiglass viewing port is even more worse for wear. We could see a little penguin down in there
Another Oystercatcher
A clump of pinecones
Yikes, get ready to sun
Back on board!
Watching the seabirds to starboard but clouds aft
We met Pauline Smith on the ride back. She has been on the forefront of reclaiming New Zealand and ridding the land of the introduced predators. Google her to get inspired!
A brave kayaker
Back in Auckland Harbor the cannons loom on the cliffs
Small sailboat up on its foil
Navy vessels in port. I saw one with flying a French flag. It must be in from New Caledonia
