RSSNew Zealand enjoys many unique and native bird habitats in both coastal and inland areas. It is certainly a good place to enjoy bird watching in their natural and native habitats. It is also an important location for migratory birds, especially from the Arctic, and also home to many rare and unusual flightless birds. You can choose from the following locations for bird watching which would offer you a magnificent experience.
Kaikoura
Kaikoura is one of the world's most exciting places for pelagic (ocean going) birds apart from being famous for whales and dolphins. For the bird watcher or wildlife enthusiast, Kaikoura offers an extensive list of opportunities with 12 species of albatross being viewed from just five minutes boat trip from the shore. You can also see other birds such as petrels, shearwaters, terns, shags, penguins, prions, skuas and gulls in Kaikoura. Apart from being an interesting place for cultural and historical, Kapiti Island is known for its diversity and density of New Zealand birdlife. It offers birders a unique opportunity to view the widest possible range of New Zealand endemics and natives (including kiwi) in a totally predator free island sanctuary environment as well as a good range of shorebirds, waders and migratory birds.
Ulva Island
Ulva Island is situated within New Zealand's southern-most national park, Rakiura, and is a short water taxi ride from Stewart Island. Being a paradise island for New Zealand birds, they live differently from all other birds. You can explore for a unique experience of native and endemic birds and plant-life here. It will be worth paying if you head out for pelagic trips for a variety of albatross and petrels as well as twilight kiwi-spotting. Make your time for a journey into the spectacular primeval forest to witness rare and endangered species that flourish in this predator-free environment.
Miranda
One hour from Auckland, the coast around Miranda enjoys an international reputation for migratory shorebirds. Flocks of 30,000 unknown birds and 25% of all known seabird species visit every year, many from Alaska, Mongolia and Siberia. Turnstones, curlews, sandpipers, godwits, wry bill plovers and lesser knots are among the visitors. The Miranda Shorebird Centre is a good place to start.
Tiritiri Matangi of Hauraki Gulf
This small island, served by ferry from Auckland, is a bird sanctuary open to the public. Some of the rarest flightless birds in the world live here. Daytrips and tours are plentiful and allow the visitor to see many species including takahe, saddlebacks, kokako, teals, stitch birds and Northern Blue penguins.
Farewell Spit of South Island
Farewell Spit is the longest natural sandbar in the world located at the top of New Zealand's South Island. It is a wetland of international importance and the summer home of many species of Arctic birds. Only the vehicles of guided tours and safaris are allowed where gannets, terns, shags, godwits, turnstones and pied are seen in numbers. The visitor centre has an excellent café with a viewing room and binoculars for hire. Whale carcasses are not uncommon on the shoreline. For unknown reasons many whales beach themselves in this area.
These apart, there are other places for bird watching such as Firth of Thames of Coromandel Peninsula, Otago Peninsula and Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony.
GOWEALTHY.COM © 2011
For comments: editor@gowealthy.com
