What bird am I? I often feed along the sides of the tracks on Tiritiri Matangi. I make loud chattering calls when I am flying.

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Ronald Pierce
5 years ago
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1 What bird am I? 1 I am a green bird with red above my beak and blue under my wings I often feed along the sides of the tracks on Tiritiri Matangi. I like to eat grass seed, fruit and flax seeds and sometimes I destroy the flax flower stems. I make loud chattering calls when I am flying. I AM A (Maori name ) 2 I have a shiny green back and dark green stripes on my chest and head. I lay my eggs in the nests of small birds, mostly grey warblers. In winter I migrate to the Solomon Islands. I return to breed in New Zealand in October. I AM A _ (Maori name ) 3 I am a dark brown nocturnal bird. I am a natural predator on Tiritiri Matangi. I hunt at night, eating large insects and small birds. During the daytime bellbirds and saddlebacks sometimes mob my roosting place. I AM A (Maori name ) 4 I am a large blue-grey bird with a black mask and long legs. I leap around in trees and don t fly well. When I am a baby I have pink wattles but they turn blue when I am an adult. I used to be known as the organ bird because of my rich mournful calls. I AM A _ (Maori name ) 14 Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools

2 5 Although I look black, in sunlight my feathers are shiny blue, green and bronze. I have white feather tufts at my neck. I love to eat nectar especially from flax and kowhai. My song is beautiful but has grunts and clicks in it. I AM A (Maori name _ ) 6 I am a wattlebird, with red wattles. I have glossy black feathers on my body and head, and a chestnut saddle across my back. I usually bound from branch to branch instead of flying. I love to pick insects from cabbage trees and from the forest floor. I AM A (Maori name _) Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools 15

3 Bird search All the birds in this word search are _ to New Zealand (the missing word can be found in the 7 boxes with a? in them). T? N? W? P? M? H? S? Words to be used: Hihi Whitehead New Zealand falcon Parakeet Miromiro Saddleback Takahe 16 Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools

Match the names of the birds Each of these birds has a Maori name as well as a common name. In this list they have been mixed up. See if you can match them correctly.

4 Match the names of the birds Each of these birds has a Maori name as well as a common name. In this list they have been mixed up. See if you can match them correctly. Common Maori Swamphen Whitehead Variable oystercatcher Parakeet North Island robin Tomtit Stitchbird Saddleback Grey warbler Blue wattled crow Bellbird Notornis Kingfisher Fernbird Fantail Little spotted kiwi Shining cuckoo Long Tailed cuckoo Morepork Riroriro Kotare Takahe Kokako Toreapango Korimako Piwakawaka Kakariki Toutouwai Popokatea Koekoea Pipiwharauroa Ruru Kiwi pukupuku Tieke Miromiro Matata Pukeko Hihi Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools 17

Piwakawaka A slim black bird, with red-brown shoulders and red

Hihi A large grey-blue bird, with a robber s mask and very

Takahe A little bird that flits around you hoping you ll

Pateke A bird with sunshine yellow markings on its shoulders

5 Who s who? Match the descriptions on the left with the names and pictures of the birds on the right. A friendly little grey bird, with long legs and a loud voice. Piwakawaka A slim black bird, with red-brown shoulders and red wattles. Hihi A large grey-blue bird, with a robber s mask and very long legs. Takahe A little bird that flits around you hoping you ll disturb insects. Pateke A bird with sunshine yellow markings on its shoulders and little white feather tufts on either side of its head. Kokako A very large ground bird, with red legs and a big strong red beak. Tieke A brown bird that loves wet places, has webbed feet, sleeps a lot in daylight and searches for food at night. Toutouwai 18 Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools

6 Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools 19

7 Trees Choose a native New Zealand tree you have studied, then fill in the gaps. What I know about a tree: Roots Trunk Branches Flowers Seeds Leaves I know this tree likes to grow in these places: Write any more facts you know about this tree. 20 Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools

8 Help or harm? Common or endangered? Tiritiri Matangi Island and other special places in Aotearoa/New Zealand, provide safe habitats for our native creatures. But not all our native creatures are endangered, and we should look after those that commonly live around our backyards, city parks and in mainland bush, streams and seashores. Choose a native bird, insect, or reptile and start thinking! Use words and pictures to show: Natives that are common Natives that are endangered Ways we might harm natives Ways we might help natives Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools 21

9 What can you do to help at home? Be aware of your environment Is there anything to attract native birds to your area? Plant trees This is one of the most positive and useful things you can do, but remember: it s after the planting that the really important work has to happen. Newlyplanted trees must be looked after properly until they are safely established and can survive without help. Without long-term care trees will not grow well, and may even die. What a waste of energy and enthusiasm that would be. Weeds: Before you plant, clear away any long grass and weeds from the area. After planting, weed around new trees twice a year (late autumn and late spring) for the first two or three years, or until the trees are well established. It s easier to weed after rain. Be careful not to disturb the tree s roots. Water: Trees need water immediately after planting, and regularly for the first two to three years. During long dry spells, water trees once a day. Give each tree at least half a bucket full of water at a time so it will penetrate right down to the roots. Shelter: Natural-flaxes, manuka, kanuka and tarata will provide good protection for less hardy trees to be planted in later years. Artificial shade cloth staked right around the trees or on the side of the prevailing wind, hay bales, bales of old newspaper, plastic tree tubes or tree protectors. Survey your neighbourhood trees: How will you go about your survey? How will you record your data? (e.g. graph, list, ) Where are the trees growing? How old are they? Why were they planted? Are there any remnants of older bush that have been saved? Are there places that would be improved if more trees were planted? 22 Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools

10 Why could planting more trees be useful? What steps can you personally take to improve the greenness of your neighbourhood? Encourage birds to your garden: Here is a list of some useful native plant food sources for native birds. Several will be too large for a town garden and some will grow slower than others. Just check with your local plant nursery. There will always be some that suit your place! However, you needn t just plant natives. Also try flowering cherries, crab apples, and any other non-natives that produce nectar or edible berries or seeds. The birds will love you for it, and you will get a lot of fun out of watching the passing parade of birdlife. 1 Nectar sources: Cabbage tree Kohekohe Konini Hangehange Rewarewa Pohutukawa Harakeke/flax Karo Tarata Haekaro Houpara Five finger Kowhai Tecomanthe Puriri 2 Seeds and/or berries: Puriri Wineberry Pate Taraire Nikau Tawa Coprosmas Five finger Houpara Cabbage tree Matai Karaka Kahikatea Miro Totara Kohekohe Pittosporums Pigeonwood Konini Kawakawa Mahoe Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools 23

11 Student evaluation sheet Name: Date: In this study I enjoyed learning about: The most interesting fact I learned was: I would like to find out more about: Three new words and their meanings I have learned are: Some of the resources I was able to use were: With thanks to Parks Educational Team: Auckland Regional Council 24 Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools

12 Answers What bird am I? 1. Red crowned parakeet (Maori name: kakariki ) 2. I am a shining cuckoo (Maori name: pipiwharauroa) 3. I am a morepork (Maori name: ruru) 4. I am a blue wattled crow (Maori name: kokako) 5. I am a parson bird (Maori name: tui) 6. I am a saddleback (Maori name: tieke) Birdsearch T A K A H E N E W Z E A L A W N D F H I T A L C O N E H E A D P A R A K E E T M I R O M I R O H I H I S A D D L E B A C K Match the bird Swamphen Whitehead Variable oystercatcher Parakeet North Island robin Tomtit Stitchbird Saddleback pukeko popokatea toreapango kakariki toutouwai miromiro hihi tieke Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools 25

13 Grey warbler Blue wattled crow Bellbird Notornis Kingfisher Fernbird Fantail Little spotted kiwi Shining cuckoo Long tailed cuckoo Morepork Spotless crake White fronted tern Little blue penguin Grey faced petrel riroriro kokako korimako takahe kotare matata piwakawaka kiwi pukupuku pipiwharauroa koekoea ruru puweto tara korora oi 26 Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools

Student activities. Tiritiri Matangi An education resource for schools

Student activities. Tiritiri Matangi An education resource for schools Student activities Tiritiri Matangi An education resource for schools To the students who will use this kit: We hope you will be inspired by the Tiritiri Matangi story and become enthused as future caretakers