Haparapara White Heron Kotuku Photography by Karamea Insley April, 2013 A photographic collection of a rare New Zealand White heron (kotuku) taken at Omaio in the Bay of Plenty.
Rare New Zealand Haparapara White-heron (kotuku)
Jan 29, 2015
A hobby of mine of is photography. Over the last two weeks I have had the real privilege of photographing the rare New Zealand pure white heron (the Kotuku) feeding on fish in part of the area we have restored through weed-spraying over the last few years. To my knowledge these birds have never been here before.
This species was almost exterminated to satisfy the demand for feathers for women’s hats. By 1941 there were only four nests at its breeding site in Okarito when it was declared a reserve and patrolled. The feathers of kotuku and huia were highly prized by Maori and were used to adorn the heads of chiefs.. These feathers were kept in carved boxes.
As the kotuku’s food consists of mainly small freshwater fish and marine fish it is usually found standing dead still in shallow water waiting to strike prey at high speed with its long neck and bill. Although small fish are its primary food source the white heron is also known to eat other small animals such as frogs, small birds, lizards, mice and insects. What moves and can be swallowed, is likely eaten.
For us as Maori, a fine compliment is to liken someone to the kotuku. Rare and beautiful.
This species was almost exterminated to satisfy the demand for feathers for women’s hats. By 1941 there were only four nests at its breeding site in Okarito when it was declared a reserve and patrolled. The feathers of kotuku and huia were highly prized by Maori and were used to adorn the heads of chiefs.. These feathers were kept in carved boxes.
As the kotuku’s food consists of mainly small freshwater fish and marine fish it is usually found standing dead still in shallow water waiting to strike prey at high speed with its long neck and bill. Although small fish are its primary food source the white heron is also known to eat other small animals such as frogs, small birds, lizards, mice and insects. What moves and can be swallowed, is likely eaten.
For us as Maori, a fine compliment is to liken someone to the kotuku. Rare and beautiful.
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Haparapara White HeronKotukuPhotography by Karamea InsleyApril, 2013
A photographic collection of a rare New Zealand White heron (kotuku) taken at Omaio in the Bay of Plenty.
The NZ White Heron (Kotuku)A collection of photo’s I have taken of a rare Kotuku feeding on fish in part of the area we have restored through weed-spraying over the last few years. To my knowledge these birds have never been here before.
This species was almost exterminated to satisfy the demand for feathers for women’s hats. By 1941 there were only four nests at its breeding site in Okarito when it was declared a reserve and patrolled. The feathers of kotuku and huia were highly prized by Maori and were used to adorn the heads of chiefs.. These feathers were kept in carved boxes.
As the kotuku’s food consists of mainly small freshwater fish and marine fish it is usually found standing dead still in shallow water waiting to strike prey at high speed with its long neck and bill. Although small fish are its primary food source the white heron is also known to eat other small animals such as frogs, small birds, lizards, mice and insects. What moves and can be swallowed, is likely eaten.
For us as Maori, a fine compliment is to liken someone to the kotuku. Rare and beautiful.
April 14th 2013
April 14th 2013
April 14th 2013
April 14th 2013
April 14th 2013
April 14th 2013
April 14th 2013
April 27th 2013Haparapara White Heron (Kotuku)
April 27th 2013
April 27th 2013
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