Checking out the strangely evolved birds of NZ 1/10/09

Naturists (or is it naturalists?)
The kiwi (the bird), being a bit of a fat flightless softy, has had a rough deal of it with the European introduction of the (cue colonial opinion) obviously much better European species such as cats, dogs, stoats, hedgehogs rats and gorse. If not eating the kiwi’s favourite foods, then they tend to be pulling it’s useless wings off (wings stunted by the curse of mammal free evolution – though some may dispute these true facts).

Thus chancing upon one of the comedic birds was a fair sledge of luck. Well not quite chancing. Going on a night walk in a place where they are monitored and defended with bait traps had to help a bit. After an hour and a bit walking, and discovering awesome kauri trees, massive kauri snails, cheese eating eels, huge spiders and a forest very much alive with activity; the clock and walk were counting down to home time. Then in a flash (of a red torch) the guide called ‘kiwi’ as the 40cm burly bird crossed the path at the gallop in front of us and galloped to cover. Worthy.

Sperlunking
E-May (as she is known to some) is getting braver. More regularly it is necessary to call her back from the edge of things, and more regularly she suggests overnight tramps than ever it would seem. In spite of this, and acceptably, the fear of dropping through a man-hole sized crack inside a cave, and then crawling through water for 15metres was ominous. The able guide, farmer and shearer Philip was able to comfort and persuade, going first, and promising to pull Emily through by her hair if she required.

She did it. But I quote: “#%$@ I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, #%$@”.

Following this, caverns full of glow worms, and hundreds, nay, thousands of stalactites, stalagmites brought a more positive (and expletive free) side back to conversations.

Fair play to the courage of her though, taking on the cave after a previous short lived snorkelling adventure. Choking in the swell at Goat island, being rescued on a rock, and then kicking the flippers with relentless vigour away from a harmless but intimidating sting ray.