Home, not just to sheep…

one wonderful creature

Among the inhabitants of the Mackenzie area are not just farmers, their stock, and pests. This land is home to some of the weird and wonderful, the unique creatures of Aotearoa.

It is without question that  land needs to be set aside for the other creatures that live here. But people protect what they love, and how can you love something you know nothing about?

One of the biggest problems with protecting wildlife in the Mackenzie is that while there are an abundance of amazing plants and animals, many of them are very small, you have to look closely.

But lets start with some big ones.

Back stilt, pic by John Gould

The Mackenzie’s braided rivers and waterways provide a haven for some fabulous feathers. It is here you will find the only black stilts in the world (population of about 93!). Known as Kaki, these are wading birds that feed in the wide riverbeds and few remaining wetlands, they nest on riverbanks and are vulnerable to disturbance of these areas by humans whether it be the introduction of weeds or modification of waterways.

Wrybill, pic by W.L. Buller

Another of the river birds is the Wrybill, unique in that it’s beak has a sideways bend ‘designed’ to extract insects and crustaceans from under rocks or scoop them out of the mud. This is another riverbed nesting bird and it relies on the wide braided rivers remaining in the basin, blending perfectly with its environment.

Then there are those living below the surface, as a great place of water it’s unsurprising that the basin is home to some fabulous fish. Of all shapes and sizes, from tiny galaxiids to intimidating eels. Bullies, crayfish and mudfish all relying on clean water and healthy systems for survival. The trouble is, the waterways are being modified at an alarming rate, and the path to the ocean has been dammed for years – what’s a migratory fish to do?

Got fabulous fish in a river near you? find its name here.

Copper butterfly, Pic by Mollivan Jon

And don’t forget the invertebrates, the fundamentals of any healthy system, and no less weird and wonderful than all the other things. The tussock country brings with it the tussock moths and copper butterflies.

There are also my favorites colonizing the herb-fields – Grasshoppers in striking colours.

Gentians, pic by somerslea

And that’s not even starting on the plants, from the golden brown tussocks that aren’t just gold (the Mackenzie basin is a stronghold for the stunning red tussock) to tiny snow-berries and gentians. for those that like figures, there are 68 known rare and threatened plant species living in the Mackenzie.

You have to wonder whats going to be missed in the next round of DoC cutbacks.