The Birds of Aotearoa
By: Helena Saven
Picture of Helena with the tūī mural described in Queenstown
Having now spent two months living in Aotearoa New Zealand, I have fallen in love with so much of the local fauna, especially the native bird populations. I’m someone who has always felt a connection to wildlife and an appreciation for seeing Earth in its uninhibited form. From the beginning I had my eye on Tiritiri Matangi, an island wildlife sanctuary in the North Island. Soon after I arrived in Auckland, I booked a ferry ticket and prepared for my day trip to the sanctuary.
I immediately noticed the careful measures taken by conservation staff and visitors to keep the space clean and peaceful for the creatures who reside ashore. I joined a guided hiking group led by Jenny, a volunteer who took her time explaining the history of the island, pointing out relevant flora, and describing the communications and calls we heard amongst the birds above. Walking through the forest floor, we were so mesmerized with watching the animals in the treetops that we often stopped for minutes to listen, watch, and be present with the birds. We stopped so often, in fact, that we were on the trail for over four hours on a hike that was estimated to take about two.
The birds I’ve seen here are unlike any I will encounter again. I recently found myself speechless at the sight of several rare Fiordland crested penguins, each no more than a couple feet tall, gathering upon the fiords at Milford Sound in the South Island. The sight of such a bird was a rare one, as the species is endangered and visitors don’t often catch a glimpse of them in the wild. During my last week in Aotearoa New Zealand, I spent a morning in Queenstown watching ducks on the waterfront as they rocked with the waves, dug their bills into the rocky sand, and assembled to feed.
It was there that I stumbled upon an artistic tribute to a reassuring motif. While walking through the township, I spotted a mural of the tūī, an assertive blue and brown bird I had first seen during my visit to Tiritiri Matangi. The tūī appears jet black in the treetops but can be seen clearly with its bright colors and distinctive pair of white feathers in daylight. A few weeks after I first met the tūī at Tiritiri Matangi, I was visited by one in the backyard at my homestay and observed as it harvested nectar from flowers that grew on my bushes in my host mother’s garden. The tūī has become a recurring friend throughout my stay in the country, a reminder of what a privilege it is to share its planet and live on its land.
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce.