Wildlife

This is really a page for Eddie and Angus. Hi boys, I am sorry to say that I havn't seen a single New Zealand mammal or reptile yet but I have seen a few birds.
The Kiwi's are more plentiful in the North Island than I had imagined. Of course being nocturnal I havn't seen any, but even the researchers counting their number do so by recording their calls rather than by sightings. I did see some road signs telling drivers to be careful for Kiwis on the road though.
i heard a Morpork at night which is a small owl whose call is just as its name suggests - More Pork More Pork More Pork!
At the hot springs at Rotorua there were a pair of pied stilts working the edge of the hot thermal pools. I cannot think what they found to eat as I am sure no fish could survive in such hot water. I also saw some black swans but they are more common than white ones here.
On the road south from Ruapehue I saw an eagle but am not sure what kind and also two groups of Pukeko's which are large black birds with big red beaks. The Australian Magpie is also around in large numbers, its exactly like our crow but has black and white patches like a magpie.
I was in Te Papa the National Museum of New Zealand, you would REALLY like that place it has some amazing displays. Best of all you would like the Giant Squid. It is 4,2 metres long and weighs about a ton. It was caught by New Zealand Fisherman who brought it back specially for the museum. They had a video camera on board and filmed it being caught. I have bought the DVD and will send it to you by post whenever I can get to a post office. Tomorrow morning I set off early on the ferry to the South Island. It should be a fabulous journey with a chance of seeing dolphins etc, but right now the weather is dreadful so I don't know if I will see anything at all it might be very rough which I wont like at all.
Anyway keep watching my Blog and you will find out in due course.