Vagaries Abound: Southeastern Loop

By Jen.

From Palmerston North, we decided to do a loop south and east that would knock off a few things on our list and burn a few days while we waited on another batch of mail we were expecting. First up was the Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre. I wanted to visit as they supposedly had a few birds that I hadn’t seen yet. Before we got there, though, Jonathan wanted to replace the shock bushing on left rear wheel.

As you can see, it was quite worn. Must have hit it just right at some point.

The first animal they had that I hadn’t seen was a bird. A grey and black one with beautiful blue wattles. The bird is known as a kokako. This one had been reared by humans (fell out of a nest and got an infection), and is particularly fond of men with beards.

It came right up to show off for Jonathan.

These fish are the adult version of one of their species of whitebait (a delicacy here).

This is one of their geckos.

What I was really looking forward to seeing was some eels! These babies are massive (up to 40 kg) and long-living. They have some that are about 100 years old. The just chill out in the rivers and feed at night until one day (maybe 35, maybe 105), they decide to leave and head into the ocean to reproduce and lay eggs near Fiji (probably, no one really knows). The are surprisingly mobile and can even crawl over land with their fins.

They had a walk-in aviary with some Kaka in it. (As well as many other birds.)

Red-crowned parakeet.

The bellbirds (pictured) and the tui seemed very bored and were flying around trying to entertain themselves.

Jonathan had recently been doing some reading on blue ducks (whio) and learned that they do not quack. Rather, the males whistle and the females grunt. We got to hear the whistling when walking by one of their enclosures. Very peculiar.

Auckland green gecko.

In paintings of tui, they always show these brilliant colors. I hadn’t really witnessed this though, as they seem to really like rainy days and deep forests, with lack of sunshine.

A medium-sized weta.

At this point, we had to leave and go to a doctor appointment. I have managed to develop a minor infection that hasn’t gone away on its own, so I went to get prescribed antibiotics. Apparently many places in NZ don’t take “casual” (one-time/passing through) patients, so I had to call several places before I found one. Then they charged me $100NZD up front for the appointment. I also found out that most pharmacies will only let you get a refill prescription at the same store front (not just same chain), as you got the first prescription. Definitely different. After lunch and medication, we went back so I could see the eel feeding. It was quite a sight!

They feed them any stinky/smelly leftovers that they had and with a spoon! It was entertaining to see these serpent-like fish sucking food off the spoon.

Earlier, we had seen about 5-6 sitting in the shadows. Now there dozens!

They even enjoyed being petted! I don’t think I would mind having an eel as a pet in a river behind my house!

And, for good measure, a tuatara, warming itself under a heat lamp.

They were supposed to have a white kiwi there as well, but she was sick with a beak infection and not feeling well for her birthday that day. Too bad. So, onward we went. This time to Castlepoint. This is a seaside location with dramatic landscape.