Our hens have been adopted, and all of our large brown ones are rescued ex-battery commercial egg layers.
BIRDS
New Zealand is a land dominated by birds.
Until humans began to arrive on our shores 700 odd years ago New Zealand's only land mammals were small bats, so our native species evolved over millions of years without land mammals.
Along with humans came a large assortment of animals - first rats and dogs and later our most damaging pests of all; stoats and possums. Our native birds were used to predators such as the now extinct Haast's eagle who would hunt via sight. Birds only had to keep still to avoid being seen by an overhead eagle, or become nocturnal to avoid them altogether. So when avid hunters such as stoats come across our birds, using smell as well as sight to hunt out their prey, many of our birds only know to freeze. Sealing their fate and becoming an easy meal.
Species such as stoats, rats, weasels, hedgehogs, cats and possums prey on birds, their chicks and eggs. The best way to keep our native birds and other species safe is by controlling introduced predators, especially prior to the breeding season in late winter/early spring. Setting traps and using bait stations are suitable methods of control. Learn more on the Animal Pests pages of the Department of Conservation website.
Our hens have been adopted, and all of our large brown ones are rescued ex-battery commercial egg layers.
Stroll our wetlands on walkways that go over water in places, with great views of New Zealand's waterbirds.
The Emu is the second largest living bird, belonging to the ratite family like NZ's Kiwi and our extinct Moa birds.
There are five main species of Kakariki. At Paradise we have the red-crowned and yellow-crowned parakeets.
Kea are the only alpine parrot, and one of the most intelligent birds in the world. Named for their loud call ‘Kee-Ah.’
Kereru are essential to NZ’s forests as they are the only remaining species able to spread seeds of our big trees.
One of the few native birds to flourish since the arrival of humans, adapting well to new habitats like open grassland.
Turkeys were introduced to New Zealand at least as early as 1851, with many subsequent importations.
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