Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and Farewell

Tēnā koutou: Greetings to all! It has been a wonderful 5 weeks with the 2022 New Zealand study abroad class. Today is our last full day (as a class) to experience New Zealand. We sported our class shirts before heading off for the day.

Class shirts designed by Meryl

Today, after a bit of rain this morning, we gathered once more in the gatorwaka and went to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. This reserve was founded 40 years ago by the Willis family and it not only educates the public about New Zealand's wildlife, but it also has a variety of conservation programs and partners with a number of different conservation agencies. Here, we toured the native wildlife of New Zealand and also the exotic animals of New Zealand.

Off we go (wildlife tour)

Along the way, we stopped in the Kea aviary, where injured and rehabilitated keas are kept. Keas are the only alpine parrot in the world. They are very endangered and it takes controlling mammalian predators in order for these birds to survive. They are very intelligent birds (some research they are the most intelligent bird), curious, cheeky, and very mischievous. They are well known to pull out the rubber weathering strips found on cars. While in the aviary ..... some of them where very curious ...

Maya and Kea

Debriana and Kea 

Kea (Nestor notabilis)

We did encounter eels on our trip, but it never gets old.....

Feeding the eels

The guide took us into the kiwi encounter. Here, they reverse the photoperiod of the enclosure so kiwis where active during the day. The enclosure was dark and very quiet. We watched a great spotted kiwi and several brown kiwi snuffle around. They are amazing to watch; they are birds but they do behave like mammals. We could not get any photos but I have attached a map of the five species found on the two main islands. The guide explained that the eggs taken in the wild are raised here at willowbank. For example, after 2-3 months, great spotted kiwi chicks are sent to the Paparoa kiwi creche that we saw while we were on the west coast. When they reach a year old, they are released in the wild.

kiwi populations

Other sections of Willowbank are the exotic species section and farm species section. My personal favorite is the kunekune pig - this breed is only found in New Zealand.

kunekune pig

Pukeko (of course)

rabbits (not hares!)

goat

We ended the night with a class celebration and slideshow. Thank you Meryl for prepping me on how to do the slideshow. It is a fun recap of all what the class did and experienced. As a professor, it is rare that we get to teach through "doing." This study abroad course allowed students to be in the field most of the time. Planting, removing invasives, talking with scientists and landowners, experiencing and observing mammal management programs, the students experienced what conservation really means. Further, they experienced the blend of Maori and European cultures to give New Zealand its current modern day  cultural flavor (and food!), I hope the students had many "ahah" moments and it was a pleasure leading the class through the many experiences both good and "difficult." This is truly a resilient bunch. We traversed throughout New Zealand and here are some highlights: 

Walked/hiked at least 100 miles (160km); up and down hills and mountains!

Driven over 2,494 miles (4,014 km); thank goodness for tea time!

Weeded/planted native plantings in 7 conservation/restoration areas; did it offset our carbon flight footprint?

Seen over 100 species of plants and animals including a baby kiwi, and white-flippered penguin in the wild!

Experienced tea time! Remember to make this a new habit in your daily routine back in the U.S.A.

Consumed lots of snacks like chocolate, CARROTS, FROGS (yes frogs), crackers and cookies; ahem... it was cold out... needed the calories.

Listened to Dr H's bad dad jokes (last one: "I know a lot of jokes about retired people, but none of them work"). (one more: "If a child refuses to nap, are they guilty of resisting a rest?")

Our 2022 iwi

Dear Ashley, Ava, Charisse, Debriana, Haiden, Hanna, Maya, Nico, Ryan, and Veronica:

Thank you. Hope that our time together has been as special to you as it has been to us and that it is a lasting memory for you through your future travels and endeavors. May you someday come back to this corner of the earth with your own family, and, as you walk among the restoration projects you have helped with, tell them the stories of our time together.

Safe travels!   Drs. Hostetler and Meurk and Meryl (from afar)

Sleep tight! Dr. H