New Zealand Wildlife

WHAKAARI / WHITE ISLAND The Volcanic Alert Level has been raised to Level 3 at White Island and the Aviation Colour Code raised to orange.

Aviation Colour Code Orange indicates that a volcanic eruption is underway but with little or no ash being produced.

On Geonet's website, duty volcanologist Geoff Kilgour said the volcano had produced "a more vigorous plume" on Friday afternoon, moving volcanic ash to the east of the island.

Today, 10th August, Whakaari exhibited vigorous activity at the vent, which maintained a constant plume that was visibly depositing ash into the sea. The latest official information is available from GeoNet at https://www.geonet.org.nz/mbl/news/6C...

Just to clarify, a drone has no sound, from the brief times we could hear the sound it was identical to Dukono in Indonesia. This was the sound used in this video.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.smeargle.fans/post/202712

not a NZ story, but I suspect that are on the move here as well

Only one more day

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/11868928

Want to help our precious nocturnal bugs during Matariki’s longer nights? Turn the lights down low

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520796/want-to-help-our-precious-nocturnal-bugs-during-matariki-s-longer-nights-turn-the-lights-down-low

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/11310760

Stumbled on this and thought it was worth a share. I had no idea you can eat gorse!

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/10239601

The residents of an island in Northland are grappling with an unusual problem - they have too many kiwi.

Seven kiwi captured near Waitangi, when their bush habitat was about to be cleared for pine forest, were released onto Moturoa island in the 1980s.

Since then, kiwi numbers on the island, near Kerikeri Inlet in the Bay of Islands, have grown into the hundreds - and that has put pressure on the limited habitat and food available for the protected birds.

As a result, 21 kiwi caught on the island were released in Opua State Forest on Friday, easing the island's population boom and boosting kiwi numbers on the mainland at the same time.

The operation would not have been possible even a few years ago but a massive pest control effort in Opua forest, which cloaks the hills behind Paihia, has made the area safe for the flightless birds.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/9439658

Was just talking about how cool New Zealand's rare frogs are and wanted to share. These frogs evolved to have no ears, so they also have no croaking noises (what's the point if the mates you are trying to attract are deaf) which is unique!

NB: There probably is a bit of "political" content insofar as some of the people are talking about threats to the frog and opposing its habatat destruction but I think this still belongs in general?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/8254485

This is a really good read about one of my favourite weird animal facts!

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/8125118

I didn't actually know they were building a new wharf on Somes, it's great that the island is getting more infrastructure. And great they caught the ants, obviously.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/6840745

The kahukura red admiral butterfly has been named New Zealand's Bug of the Year today, after nearly 17,000 bug lovers voted for their favourite insect.

Twenty bugs were vying to be New Zealand's favourite, with 11 of the 20 nominees listed as at-risk, endangered or declining.

The competition - run by the Entomological Society of New Zealand - was created to give bugs the same kind publicity seen in the popular Bird of the Year race.

The winning insects receive research funding and promotion about their conservation.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/6377991

New Zealand's rarest bird looks set for a bumper breeding season this summer with five fledglings already striking out on their own and as many as eight more chicks to follow.

That might not sound like many but given that the total world population of tara iti, or fairy terns, is less than 40, that is a huge boost to the species' chances of survival.

It is also a much-needed morale boost for volunteers and Department of Conservation staff looking after the birds, after the disastrous 2022-23 season in which Cyclone Gabrielle killed five adults and all but one chick.

DOC supervisor Shelley Ogle said the current season was tracking to be the best since 2013-14.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/5503861

New Zealand Giant Stick Insect - Argosarchus horridus

Was visited by this not so wee one yesterday. Never seen a stick insect this big outside of the zoo - was probably close to 18cm long (judging size against weatherboards).

My daughter named it Dave.

The vagrant spiders are unique to Aotearoa. They are big and hairy, and they like to roam around in search of a meal.

Hard to get a good photo due to the size of this little guy, so apologies for the blurriness