The New Zealand Pukeko.
It's scientific name is Porphyrio Porphyrio Melanous.Meaning 'purple purple black' but it is more blue than purle.
If you ask any visitor to New Zealand what bird they remember most
will be more than sure that their answer will be 'The Pukeko'!
Defence and Behavior:
It is a tough bird and seems very capable of fighting off attacks. The predators (mammals) arrived with humans over the past few hundred years. Strangely, Pukeko have thrived in an environment where the introduced predators such as cats, rats and stoats, are present (Brunin and Jamieson, 1995). They have been known to group together and shriek loudly to successfully defend nests during attacks by harrier hawks. They can often be heard in the night protecting their nests. They do not always overcome these predators and sometimes abandon the nest site. Pukeko live in groups of 3-12 indiviuals.
1 comment:
I would like to congratulate all students and teachers at Lija-Balzan primary for their top notch work and dedication towards environmental education and protection this year.
It was a pleasure to meet some of you at your Nature day last April and the Talk about Birds of Prey last February at St. James Cavalier.
This blog is one perfect example of the level of work that your school has produced. It's a very original idea and you have gained 150 points for this under our 'Media Attack' activity.
Wishing you the best for your summer holidays, I hope to be able to work with you again in the near future.
Regards
Sandra
Dinja Wahda
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