New Zealand Wildlife
The Taranaki Regional Council has launched a interactive map to make it easier for the public to log sightings of Australasian bittern.
WHAKAARI / WHITE ISLAND The Volcanic Alert Level has been raised to Level 3 at White Island and the Aviation Colour Code raised to orange. Aviation Colour Code Orange indicates that a volcanic eruption is underway but with little or no ash being produced. On Geonet's website, duty volcanologist Geoff Kilgour said the volcano had produced "a more vigorous plume" on Friday afternoon, moving volcanic ash to the east of the island. Today, 10th August, Whakaari exhibited vigorous activity at the vent, which maintained a constant plume that was visibly depositing ash into the sea. The latest official information is available from GeoNet at https://www.geonet.org.nz/mbl/news/6C... Just to clarify, a drone has no sound, from the brief times we could hear the sound it was identical to Dukono in Indonesia. This was the sound used in this video.
www.scientificamerican.com
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.smeargle.fans/post/202712 not a NZ story, but I suspect that are on the move here as well
gardenbirdsurvey.nz
Only one more day
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/11868928 > Want to help our precious nocturnal bugs during Matariki’s longer nights? Turn the lights down low > > https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520796/want-to-help-our-precious-nocturnal-bugs-during-matariki-s-longer-nights-turn-the-lights-down-low
thisnzlife.co.nz
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/11310760 > Stumbled on this and thought it was worth a share. I had no idea you can eat gorse!
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/10239601 > > The residents of an island in Northland are grappling with an unusual problem - they have too many kiwi. > > > > Seven kiwi captured near Waitangi, when their bush habitat was about to be cleared for pine forest, were released onto Moturoa island in the 1980s. > > > > Since then, kiwi numbers on the island, near Kerikeri Inlet in the Bay of Islands, have grown into the hundreds - and that has put pressure on the limited habitat and food available for the protected birds. > > > > As a result, 21 kiwi caught on the island were released in Opua State Forest on Friday, easing the island's population boom and boosting kiwi numbers on the mainland at the same time. > > > > The operation would not have been possible even a few years ago but a massive pest control effort in Opua forest, which cloaks the hills behind Paihia, has made the area safe for the flightless birds.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/9439658 > Was just talking about how cool New Zealand's rare frogs are and wanted to share. These frogs evolved to have no ears, so they also have no croaking noises (what's the point if the mates you are trying to attract are deaf) which is unique! > > NB: There probably is a bit of "political" content insofar as some of the people are talking about threats to the frog and opposing its habatat destruction but I think this still belongs in general? > >
www.nzgeo.com
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/8254485 > This is a really good read about one of my favourite weird animal facts!
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/8125118 > I didn't actually know they were building a new wharf on Somes, it's great that the island is getting more infrastructure. And great they caught the ants, obviously.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/6840745 > The kahukura red admiral butterfly has been named New Zealand's Bug of the Year today, after nearly 17,000 bug lovers voted for their favourite insect. > > Twenty bugs were vying to be New Zealand's favourite, with 11 of the 20 nominees listed as at-risk, endangered or declining. > > The competition - run by the Entomological Society of New Zealand - was created to give bugs the same kind publicity seen in the popular Bird of the Year race. > > The winning insects receive research funding and promotion about their conservation.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/6377991 > > New Zealand's rarest bird looks set for a bumper breeding season this summer with five fledglings already striking out on their own and as many as eight more chicks to follow. > > > > That might not sound like many but given that the total world population of tara iti, or fairy terns, is less than 40, that is a huge boost to the species' chances of survival. > > > > It is also a much-needed morale boost for volunteers and Department of Conservation staff looking after the birds, after the disastrous 2022-23 season in which Cyclone Gabrielle killed five adults and all but one chick. > > > > DOC supervisor Shelley Ogle said the current season was tracking to be the best since 2013-14.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/5503861 > [New Zealand Giant Stick Insect - Argosarchus horridus](https://inaturalist.nz/taxa/386057-Argosarchus-horridus) > > Was visited by this not so wee one yesterday. Never seen a stick insect this big outside of the zoo - was probably close to 18cm long (judging size against weatherboards). > > My daughter named it Dave.
The vagrant spiders are unique to Aotearoa. They are big and hairy, and they like to roam around in search of a meal.
Hard to get a good photo due to the size of this little guy, so apologies for the blurriness
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/4592838 > So sad to read. What is wrong with some people?
Bryozoans have been called 'the world's best-kept secret'; that might be why we don't know much about this week's critter. The cyclostome bryozoan Spiritopora perplexa is only found off the coast of Piwhane Spirits Bay in Te Tai Tokerau and is an endangered species.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/573262 > Possibly a little known / under appreciated gem in our city. > > Did an unofficial (you can pay for guided tours) glow worm walk this evening in Otari-Wilton Bush - organized via my kids Childspace. I've lived nearby for years, and walked those trails many times without realizing that they were there. > > We walked a short walk from the Northern carpark and all along the trail there were hundreds of glow worms right on the trail banks. I've never seen so many, so close (aside from Waitomo). Would definitely recommend for those with kids or anyone really.
  
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/241295 > First part of the video is a hilarious appraisal of freedom camping and wellness influencers.