Environment Waikato, the council responsible for environmental issues in my region, are working on a great project that’s making me very happy.
- Photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NewZealandTuiOnFlax_brightcrop.jpg
The Hamilton Halo project has been working hard to bring back native New Zealand birds, such as the tui and bellbird, into Hamilton’s suburbs. Apparently these birds, tui especially, used to be common in this city but predators and loss of habitat caused them to vanish.
When I first moved to Wellington in 2006, I lived in an old house atop a hill in Brooklyn that had a kowhai tree outside my bedroom window. Every morning I’d wake up to the distinctive call* of the tui, and it was amazing, as I’d only ever seen them in free-flight aviaries in zoos.
Now though, back in Hamilton, I’m regularly hearing them, and the other day was lucky enough to see a pair in a tree at my house. It gives me a real sense of being ‘home’ to have these unique New Zealand birds around the place, and hearing them never fails to make me smile.
So good on you Hamilton Halo. What a gift you’re giving Hamilton.
*Call from Environment Waikato site, provided by the Department of Conservation.
Love the idea of a halo of protection. Just moved to a place with a view of a canyon… may barrow the term… also love your mp3 of the bird call… lovely.
I love birds and we live in rural Florida in the US and have several species that call our property home. We have the huge Sandhill Cranes, Blue Jay, Cardinals, Quail, Meadowlarks, Doves, Eagles, Brown Sparrow and Wrens. We also have Crows and while I realize their importance in the scheme of things, I don’t appreciate them eating my corn when we plant it. The picture of the bird on your blog is beautiful. I’ve always loved birds and look forward to when the Robins pass through on their way up north.