The zoo is also a small enterprise but that was OK as it was a scorcher and we were never going to be able to put in a marathon effort anyway. The zoo is on the very top of one of the foothills of the mountains of the interior. It had great views and a good breeze but there was lots of up hill and down hill travel. We concentrated on the Valley of the Endemics where there were specimens of all of the birds found only on this small island. Since they are native to the island, others of their species can be found outside the very cages that hold their comrades. This facility was supposed to be zoo and botanical gardens but the garden part was lacking. We drove out to another garden at the end of the peninsula where the maritime museum was. It turned out to be a garden on the campus of the local university that we did not have access to. We drove a bit further to a beach and then headed back.
An osprey flew by the apartment
I did some exploring behind the building
A tiny water taxi
Black Napped Tern
A memorial
Bog waves in the windy day
The limestone kiln
Entrance to the zoo
Right off the bat a Lifebird #1 New Caledonian Imperial Pigeon
It is the largest pigeon in the world
Great views from up on high
Blues and greens
Lifebird #2 the Green Backed White-eye
Lifebird #3 Small Lifou White-eye
Lifebird #4 Common Waxbill
the national bird of New Caledonia the Kagu.
It is shares the taxonomic order with only one other species the sun bittern. It is the only species in its family
Cure little white0eyes
Chestnut Breasted Munia
Another cutie
Ropy vines
A grey fantail
Pink hibiscus
So many cormorants
Where is the bark?
Mushrooms
A yellow parrot?
Galah
In the valley of endemics
Gotta go!
Burned out buildings from the recent unrest
Major graffiti
We drove out to another "garden"
It was on the campus of the New Caledonia university but we did not have access
Cool older buildings out on this side of town
Strangler fig tree
A large fenced off area?
Looking back at the harbor
A great day for a drive
If you are a prince, then Mary D Princess!
