Big Birds

Last day in Auckland, and I'm feeling lots of relief to be moving on. I finally made it to the Auckland Museum--I spent the whole time in the natural history wing. Go figure.

Their collection of preserved specimens is really impressive. I don't think I'd otherwise be able to gaze upon the Huia, Bush Wren, Piopio, or South Island Kokako--unique birds that have all gone extinct within the last 100 years. It's really frustrating, to see with the benefit of time and consequences the tragic results of the ignorant practices of those who came before. The Huia was one of three species of New Zealand wattlebird, and the only bird of modern times whose female and male counterparts featured dramatically different bill shapes. The female's was strikingly long and decurved, while the male's was shorter and thicker. Both sported gorgeous orange wattle discs at the corners of their mouths. This species disappeared by 1907...to see it stuffed, in a glass box, was at once breathtaking and tremendously sad.

The massive bird above (on the left hand side) is not a preserved specimen. It is a reconstruction of a Giant Moa--at 3.5 meters, the tallest bird that ever lived. This species disappeared around 1400, along with 8 other kinds of Moa, at the hands of Maori hunters, though supposed sightings still persisted after European settlement. The skeletons of four other species, recovered around the country, are displayed to the right. The unwitting museum patron is provided for scale.

The Moa were ratites, flightless birds that include the ostrich, emu, rhea, cassowary, and kiwi species. Those ratites that are alive today still have tiny vestigial wings, yet the Moa were so anciently flightless that they didn't even have those.

*****

I have just a few minutes of internet left so until I can respond personally, I want to thank everyone for their supportive reassuring comments yesterday. Blip is rife with wonderfully kind people and I do feel less alone when I read your words of encouragement. Thank you so much.