Tiritiri Matangi

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11th December 2008 Tiritiri Matangi

This was an incredible island. It is a bird sanctuary where the birds have been re-introduced to this habitat and are thriving in the wild here. We had a volunteer guide who took us around for the whole morning. She was very knowledgeable and helped us to see some beautiful native birds. We were even lucky enough to see the very rare kokako.

We had a great chat with one of the other volunteers who talked to us about the possibility o us doing voluntary work on the island. She said they need to make more pathways on the island and Rob told her that was the kind of work he is skilled at. She has given us lots of names and numbers to contact and I am sure we will come back here at the end of our NZ trip to do some voluntary work - who knows where it might lead? The volunteer talked to us both about doing an island management course. Its exciting to think of all the avenues this trip could open up.

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Photos

Tiritiri lighthouse
Me in front of the lighthouse at the end of our morning's walk

New Zealand robin
This is the North Island variety

Takahe
These had a tiny chick with them

Whitehead
singing away for all it was worth