"With your feet on the air and your head on the ground" -The Pixies
I felt the air rushing through my hair as I flew through the air. As the sunset turned the clouds into pink cotton candy over the city I hopped on the zipline and laughed enjoying feeling completely free for a moment. We had found it...the family playground of Christchurch. An amazing space filled with slides, swings, trampolines, a zipline, and things to climb. The best part...everyone, including adults, are free to use it 24 hours a day! I felt like the luckiest person to have found such a space. Playing as the sun went down was the perfect end to another day in the city as I wait patiently to fly south.
Amy Osborne swinging at Margaret Mahy Family Playground.
I love the feeling of flying, whether it's a zipline, a plane, a swing, I love the rush of the wind. I love being up so high I can see the world below. As for now, though, I'm hanging pretty close to the ground for awhile. It looks like it'll be another two days before we finally have lift off for Antarctica. While waiting I decided to visit another flier who is permanently grounded...the kiwi bird.
Amy Osborne finds her camera battery charger. Our checked bags are being held at the Clothing Distribution Center. Today we had a chance to get things we need out of them.
After taking the local bus to the United States Antarctica Program Clothing Distribution Center to dig out my camera battery charger, running shoes, mini-chalkboard, a book, and another pair of jeans from my checked luggage, Denise and I decided to take the bus to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Just outside of Christchurch, the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve has a wide variety of New Zealand wildlife. I had fun herding some ducks, staring down an emu, admiring the little lambs, and checking out the endangered tuatara, one of the world's oldest species that is only found in New Zealand.
Amy Osborne the duckling herder at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, New Zealand (Otautahi, Aotearoa)
An emu, native to Australia, hangs out at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, New Zealand (Otautahi, Aotearoa)
A little lamb at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, New Zealand (Otautahi, Aotearoa)
Tuataras are not lizards but are lizard like animals that are one of the oldest species. They have a 3rd eye on top of their head that is called the parietal eye.
I loved looking at these animals but I was really there to see the kiwi. I've been to New Zealand two other times and have yet to see this noturnal animal. Related to the extinct Moa, that I mentioned in yesterday's journal, and Australia's emus and cassowaries, kiwis are flightless birds. They are native to New Zealand and are an important national symbol of the country. In fact, New Zealanders are known as kiwis. The Māori consider the feathers of the kiwi to be very valuable. Every culture in New Zealand holds the kiwi in high regard.
Amy Osborne in front of a cutout of the extinct Moa, a flightlless bird native to New Zealand.
There are five different species of kiwis and they all have a keen sense of smell. Unlike other birds, kiwis have nostrils at the end of their beaks and they lay enormous eggs! Unfortunately, the kiwi is on the critical list. Their major threats include dogs and stoats, which is a short-tailed weasel, and habitat loss.
I was so excited to see the kiwi! Unfortuately, since they are nocturnal I didn't get a photo of one. I'm even more excited to get to Antarctica and, hopefully, see another awesome flightless bird...the penguin!
Thanks for following my journals. If you want to make sure to stay updated, remember to subscribe on the expedition page. Also, feel free to make comments and ask questions below.
Comments
Add new comment