Tiritiri Matangi is an Island Sanctuary north of Auckland. It’s an amazing place, just over an hour away from the city by ferry. The forest is alive with song.
I was extremely lucky to spend three days there as part of a Biology field trip. While our primary objective was to study feeding behaviour and interactions between honeyeaters (Tui, Bellbirds, and Hihi), there was plenty of time for photography. We even managed two night-walks to see little blue penguins and Little spotted kiwi!
Our first night walk was under the stars, and we watched little motes of phosphorescence stir in the waters by the jetty. Along the shore we searched for little blue penguins, and saw a few making their way home for the night. Up on a ridge, we sat and called to Grey-faced petrels, who soared past the tangled pohutukawas, silhouetted against the stars and distant city lights.
A few of us opted to stay out a little longer, and made for North-East Bay. We startled another penguin and a pair of Pāteke (Brown Teal), and just when we had given up all hope, we turned to see a Little spotted kiwi in our path. It’s the first time I’ve seen a kiwi outside of a zoo, and on a wind-tossed night with the stars blazing overhead, it was a special moment.
On the way home, we spotted another kiwi, darting off down the Kawerau track into the bush. We walked without torches where we could, letting the stars and the swinging beam of the lighthouse guide us back to the bunkhouse.
We had pretty shocking weather after that. On our second day, the wind was too high for the ferry to land, and we had the whole island to ourselves. Rain-soaked and wind-buffeted, we collected data on Hihi (Stitchbird) interactions at the nectar feeders. That nights walk was rain-soaked and uneventful, although the phosphorescence at the jetty was brighter and winked where raindrops hit the surface.
I’ve always felt rushed on trips to Tiri, we’ve only ever been on day-trips before and we try to make the most of them. It was nice to be able to slow the pace a bit, and not worry so much about missing photographic opportunities.
I spent the afternoon of our last day there with a pair of Kokako in Wattle Valley, listening to their song and watching them forage in the canopy. They are without a doubt one of my favourite birds, and I’m glad to have been able to photograph them.
Big thanks to our field trip supervisor and the team of field-trippers, you guys were an awesome bunch and it was great to share the adventure with you! I hope your report-writing went well ;)
