Takahe

The Takahe is the world's largest Rail.  A Rail is an order of birds.  The Takahe is closely related to the Pukeko, which is another New Zealand Rail.  It is rare and endangered due to the introduction of predators, such as Stoats and Possums.  It was thought to be extinct until it was discovered in 1948, in a valley of the Murchison Ranges on the South Island.

Takahe at the Ecosanctuary

Takahe can weight up to 3kgs and measure around 63cm in length.  They are territorial and can even attack humans during the breeding season.  We saw this one at the Ecosanctuary near Dunedin.  It looked much bigger in real life.  They live for around 14 to 20 years, which is quite a long time for a bird.

I think they are very cute and glad they are not extinct like many other birds of New Zealand.  I hope one day, that the breeding program is so successful, that they are removed from the endangered list as well.

Chaffinch

The Chaffinch is a type of Finch.  These photos are of a male Chaffinch on Rabbit Island.  They are one of the most common Finches in New Zealand.  They are the only Finches seen in exotic forests.  There is nowhere too remote for the Chaffinch.

In autumn and winter they form flocks of hundreds of birds.  

The Chaffinch is an introduced species, they came to New Zealand in the 1860s. 

Chaffinch weigh 21 to 22 grams and they are 15cm long.  They eat farmers' crops.  

The Kea

These are Kea, the world's only Alpine Parrot.  They live only in New Zealand on the South Island.

Kea like to eat the rubber off cars.  They like to go to campsites to find something to eat or play with.  People should not feed them because they get used to it and when the tourist season ends, they have no food to eat, and can starve to death.

The Kea is related to the Kaka, which is a parrot that lives in the forests of New Zealand.

I like them because they look nice and fluffy.