Auckland was more sightseeing than birding: We ate some of our dinners at Ponsonby Central, a small outdoor mall with different kinds of restaurants. We toured the Auckland Museum which was actually fun. They had stuffed birds on display, among them, the kiwi! But the highlight was the Volcano Simulation Room. There are many volcanoes in New Zealand, and the Volcano Room was a place where we sat down on a couch in a small room made to look like a living room in someone's home. There was a TV in front us "reporting" about a volcano getting ready to explode near Auckland and how everyone was evacuating. Then the room shook and the lights flickered and we saw what Auckland would look like after a volcanic eruption. It was pretty cool.
In Auckland, I did manage to pick up a few good species such as a SHINING CUCKOO. I saw this bird on Mt. Eden. While we were in Auckland we also took a day trip to Waiheke Island, which was possibly the most fun day in this New Zealand part of the trip. There, I saw a few birds such as VARIABLE OYSTERCATCHER, PIED STILT and AUSTRALIAN GANNET. Also spotted: SILVEREYES (picture below), a common species found in New Zealand. These birds usually come in flocks. Life bird!
On our drive here, I saw my life bird SPUR WINGED PLOVER in a field on the side of the road! Unlike most plovers, this bird prefers agricultural fields over being near water. We soon arrived at our campsite, and I was so excited to just huddle up around the campfire and be in nature, but the campsite wasn't really what I thought. Apparently there is a strict "no fire" rule here. There was also a kitchen; yes, this is "camping" in New Zealand. This is a photo of our campsite and our motorhome.
We drove to the next campsite. I had more hope that this one would be better. But alas...
The last place we went to in the North Island was the city of Wellington. After a day of sightseeing, my dad and I left after dinner to go to the Zealandia Sanctuary, ten minutes outside of Wellington. Zealandia is a very large reserve that protects the Little Spotted Kiwi, along with many other rare species. The Little Spotted Kiwi is the second rarest kiwi. Zealandia is a 225 hectare reserve, with a fence that keeps the kiwi's predators out. Since this bird is flightless and not particularly fast, it's easy prey. When they first made this reserve, they brought in 41 Little Spotted Kiwi, and now the population has gone up to 140! These birds are not captive and roam wildly in this large reserve.
Just before we had arrived at the sanctuary, I saw 2 NEW ZEALAND PIGEON perched on a wire near the car. Lifer! We arrived at the Visitors Center and met our guides, Allison and Gill. Allison and Gill split up and Allison guided us. Allison, the group and Gill both looked for kiwis, as well as other birds and wildlife, such as this female CALIFORNIA QUAIL.
Bird List for North Island Life List 436 (25 life birds in the North Island)
House Sparrow X
Tui X life bird!
Eurasian Blackbird X
Shining Cuckoo 1 life bird!
Silvereye X life bird!
Little Spotted Kiwi 3 life bird!
Kaka 3 life bird!
Brown Teal 2 life bird!
Mallard 1 life bird!
Paradise Shelduck X life bird!
Spur Winged Plover X life bird!
Pied Stilt 3 life bird!
Variable Oystercatcher X life bird!
South Island Oystercatcher 8 life bird!
Red Billed Gull X life bird!
Southern Black Backed Gull
Australian Gannet X
Welcome Swallow 2 life bird!
Grey Warbler 2 life bird!
New Zealand Fantail X life bird!
Common Chaffinch X
White Faced Heron 2 life bird!
Reef Heron 1 life bird!
Pied Shag X life bird!
Song Thrush 7
Whitehead 2 life bird!
Spotted Dove X
Californi Quail 15
Dunnock X
Common Myna X
Eurasian Coot X
Black Swan 4 life bird!
New Zealand Scaup 12 life bird!
Pukeko X life bird!
New Zealand Kingfisher 1 life bird
Australian Magpie X life bird!
X = unspecified number