Tiritiri Matangi



The Tui bird, lovely white waddles showing here as he drinks the nectar from the flowers.  Very melodic sound that is varied and beautiful.



Tiritiri Matangi                               

The ferry system for Auckland serves several outlaying islands in the bay including Tiritiri Matangi (Tiri).  It is an island to the north east of the city and is owned by the DOC (Department of Conservation) who works with the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi which is a volunteer incorporated society to make the most of the wonderful conservation project for the island.                                                A brief history of Tiri and why the conservation effort is in place…Tiri was inhabited by the native Maori tribe in the 1800’s.  They clear cut a large portion of the island for farming and living space.  Then, many farmers moved to the island and continued to destroy the native flora and fauna until there was only a small portion of the island that had not been clear cut (about 10%).  With the destruction of forests, many bird species became extinct on the island. In the 1970’s when the leases for the farmers expired, the island was reclaimed by the DOC and efforts were begun to bring Tiri back to its original native condition.  The DOC oversees the project, but it is volunteers that have planted the trees and shrubs and reclaimed the land to a more original condition.  In the 70’s, volunteers planted over 250,000 native trees and now, the island has over 400,000 native trees thriving.                               

Takahe grazing

                         

Some species of birds have returned to the island naturally, but most have been re-introduced though the raising of funds to support the efforts.  Walkways have been placed so that the forests are not disturbed by visitors and birds are becoming increasingly abundant.                                                  The work of the DOC and the volunteers is nothing less than miraculous.  At this time, I cannot think of anything comparable being conducted in the US.  It will be my mission to have my students research what projects may be undertaken on such a large scale in the US to see how more projects can be implemented.  But, I honestly do not think I will find anything of this magnitude.                                         

Rain in the distance found us shortly.  It poured!

     Now, a few notes on the tour.  The ferry ride was a little over an hour and we left the dock seeing threatening skies in the distance.  It rained on the ride over and then stopped for a while.  Upon disembarking, a large group of students went in one direction with a guide.  That left a total of six of us on the dock.  Chris (a middle school counselor from Syracuse, NY) and I were placed with our tour guide John.  He briefed us on the history of the island, pointed out birds and plants, and kept us entertained with stories of the flock of Takahe (tak-a-he) and how they have such individual personalities.  We had been warned that Greg would most likely greet us at lunch and try to get in our backpacks for food.  Unfortunately, Greg was a little under the weather because he had flirted with another males girlfriend, so he as a little beaten up.  The Takahe looks like a big blue chicken, walks calmly around grazing on grass, and is not too disturbed by humans taking hundreds of pictures.  Some of the other birds that we saw were the Tui, Stitchbird or Hihi, Australian Quail (not native), the English Sparrow (just like ours), the Pigeon, Oystercatchers, the Whitehead, AND, a baby blue penguin.  Some school children have constructed

four nest boxes that are made of stone.  The “boxes” look like a stone igloo and have a wooden removable top with Plexiglas underneath so you can see in the nest.  The first box had two penguin eggs, and the next box had a precious baby penguin that was within three inches of my looking at it through the Plexiglas. During the four hours on the tour, we had overcast and cool temperatures; a pouring rain with strong winds; a beautiful blue sky, warm temperature; and then in the next five minutes, a cold rain again.  The weather changed about 7 times during a five hour period.  If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it will change!  The trip and tour to Tiri was amazing and eye-opening to what the US is NOT doing in the area of conservation and preservation of native species.





The Fantail are quick moving and elusive for the camera as they dart around you eating insects that you stir up while walking.  They are quite entertaining!



Lush forest that is part of the few hectares that were not destroyed.  This is an 800 year old Pohutukawa tree.  This fast growing  tree forms a canopy for other slower growing trees.





My favorite bird, the Takahe which is like a big blue chicken.