New Zealand Animals

We had a great day out to visit Willowbank wildlife reserve to see some native New Zealand wildlife. This little fantail was busy feeding his family nearby - not part of an exhibit but probably enjoying an area that's safe from pussy cat predators...



Its quite easy to see how they get their name!



A little silver-eye also put in an unexpected appearance...



The famous Kea - an alpine parrot with an inquisitive (and sometimes destructive!) nature.





They really are rather bold!



Another one was busy having a wash








Also unique to New Zealand - the tuatara. Old as the dinosaurs, they haven't changed in many millions of years of isolation.



Of course, the star of the show is the kiwi. Unfortunately, their nocturnal nature makes them difficult to find but Willowbank has a great night-time exhibit to allow you to see them in simulated night. Not easy to photograph in though! They are unusual birds indeed - smaller than a chicken, they lay an egg 10 times bigger than a hen's. They also don't have much more than a vestigal wing, and are the only birds that have nostrils on the end of their beaks. It lets them smell the insects in the soil...



A similar, day-time bird is the weka, also flightless and oddly egg-shaped due to the lack of wings.



The reserve also had some more widely-spread animals...



These ducklings were rather bold as well!





Here are the otters - very friendly and talkative. You can't be sad if you have three otters squeaking 'hello' to you!





Pile of sleeping lemurs!



And kunekune pigs that hold their mouths open for you to drop food in.