Over the Easter break I was lucky enough to head down to Anchor Island/Pukenui with my husband for a pretty exciting volunteer opportunity. Nestled in Fiordland’s Dusky Sound, Anchor Island is one of three offshore islands that are home to the critically endangered kākāpo. The island is predator free and the first kākāpo were transferred there in 2005 after stoats were eradicated from the island in 2001.
Kākāpo are large flightless parrots found only in Aotearoa. Once widespread around the country, they had a brush with extinction when their populations got as low as 50 birds. Find out more about kakapo by visiting DOC’s website.
Stepping onto the island was like going back in a time machine to pre-human settlement. The beautiful rimu dominant forest is heaving with abundant and curious birdlife. I encountered my first tieke (saddleback) and mohua (yellowhead) who were very friendly. These birds often hung out in little packs with bellbird, brown creeper, south island robin and piwakawaka and would follow me along the track. Being out in the pristine wild with these special companions reinforced how incredible New Zealand’s native biodiversity is and how important it is for us to do as much as we can to protect them.
Cuddling Kākāpo on Anchor Island — City Sanctuary
Over the Easter break I was lucky enough to head down to Anchor Island/Pukenui with my husband for a pretty exciting volunteer opportunity. Nestled in Fiordland’s Dusky Sound, Anchor Island is one of three offshore islands that are home to the critically endangered kākāpo. The island is predator free and the first kākāpo were transferred there in 2005 after stoats were eradicated from the island in 2001.
Kākāpo are large flightless parrots found only in Aotearoa. Once widespread around the country, they had a brush with extinction when their populations got as low as 50 birds. Find out more about kakapo by visiting DOC’s website.
Stepping onto the island was like going back in a time machine to pre-human settlement. The beautiful rimu dominant forest is heaving with abundant and curious birdlife. I encountered my first tieke (saddleback) and mohua (yellowhead) who were very friendly. These birds often hung out in little packs with bellbird, brown creeper, south island robin and piwakawaka and would follow me along the track. Being out in the pristine wild with these special companions reinforced how incredible New Zealand’s native biodiversity is and how important it is for us to do as much as we can to protect them.