FIVE NATIVE CREATURES TO NZ - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

Five native creatures to nz

IALT: keep myself knowledgeable and productive about NZ!

KIWI BIRD

The flightless native birds of New Zealand, named the kiwi is one of the most well known animal to NZ. They have sensitive nostrils, long beaks and a fat round shape. The kiwi is used in a variety of ways to symbolise/ represent our country. These creatures eat small portions of seeds, grubs, and a hand full of worms. They can also eat fruit, small crayfish and eels. Fact: People who live in NZ are recognised as 'Kiwi's'. These birds are going through a hard time right now, as their population starts to decrease as more stoats devour them. The stoats are pesty buggers, a predator to the kiwis.  People have been working to ridding them (Stoats) as the situation starts to get worst. 

  

CHEVRON SKINK LIZARDS

The skink lizards are very small, quick creatures. You can usually find them in your backyard - which is where I usually find them. These small things are the colour of black, light brown or lighter, which makes them difficult to spot time-to-time. The Skink diet on insects, such as moths, crickets, earthworms, flies, grubs, caterpillars, grasshoppers, cockroaches and many more largish. These lizards can be found at Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island. (Chevron Type)

KEA PARROT

These are the only alpine parrots in the world and are commonly found in the 'Arthur’s Pass National Park' on the south island of New Zealand. These parrots get food from the trees (e.g: fruit, leaves, shoot, nectar and seeds) And get insects from within soil and rotten trees. These birds also have a cheeky/ annoying sense to dismantle car parts, so look out.   

HECTOR’S DOLPHIN

Named after their founder Sir James hector, these dolphins are native to new Zealand. They are also the worlds smallest dolphin, 4.1 metres long. to be exact. These creatures can be found in the south island waters and you could even possibly swim with them if your interested. Their diet contains of squid, red cod, flatfish and yellow eyed mullet. 

FUR SEAL

These furry creatures are spotted at the bottom of the Harbour Bridge on a regular basis. These funny things are usually found in the waters - but it wouldn't be strange if you found one in your back yard, haha! They feed on fish, birds (including penguins) squid and krill.