by Evita Zarina | Nov 19, 2025 | Flora & Fauna, Publications
By Annie HillThe original article in Russell Lights | Ngā Mārama o Kororāreka, November 2025 edition There are only two migratory land birds in Aotearoa New Zealand, and both are cuckoos. There’s a story that early Ma ori noticed cuckoos flying south every spring and...
by Evita Zarina | Oct 1, 2025 | Flora & Fauna, Publications
By Annie HillThe original article in Russell Lights | Ngā Mārama o Kororāreka, October 2025 edition Do you know which bird is depicted on the $20 bill? It’s the kārearea, New Zealand falcon and Bird of the Year 2025. The kārearea, Falco novaeseelandiae, is New...
by Evita Zarina | Sep 1, 2025 | Flora & Fauna
By Annie HillThe original article in Russell Lights | Ngā Mārama o Kororāreka, September 2025 edition I couldn’t resist it, but in fact it’s not inappropriate: bitterns freeze when approached, are masters of camouflage, and have put a lot of effort into being...
by Evita Zarina | Aug 19, 2025 | Flora & Fauna
By Annie HillThe original article in Russell Lights | Ngā Mārama o Kororāreka, August 2025 edition It’s hard to envy the life of a mouse, low down on the food chain, living in perpetual terror, where humans are as big as a dinosaur and far too many creatures are...
by Evita Zarina | Aug 4, 2025 | Flora & Fauna
By Sara Brill, Biosecurity Specialist Northland Regional Council “This time of year, a pink wave is spreading across the region in the form of the Taiwan cherry tree (Prunus campanulate). It blossoms just before bird nesting season, so native birds (especially tūī)...
by Evita Zarina | Jun 15, 2025 | Flora & Fauna, Publications
By Annie HillThe original article in Russell Lights | Ngā Mārama o Kororāreka, June 2025 edition Possums were successfully introduced to Aotearoa New Zealand in the 1850s to provide fur, food and ‘sport’. Not particularly valuable in any of those roles, they have...
