The Bird Watching Club for World Travelers |
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Zealand
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You don't need to be an expert birder to contact a Pal. Together you have love for nature, birds, new countries and learning.
These are serious birdwatchers willing to share their time to help you. It is a privilege to contact them. Your message should be respectful.
A Birding Pal does not charge a fee, however you should pay for their expenses, transportation costs, entrance fees, meals, etc.
Pals will answer your messages quickly, if they can. You might select someone who is traveling, so write to more than one Pal, and be patient. Let us know if someone doesn't answer and we'll check that everything is okay.
Let us know when you are going to meet a Pal, and then let us know how it went.
Happy birding.
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D. Snook
Maps
Whangaparaoa, Auckland , New Zealand
Available
Anytime
Languages
English
Note
I am retired, living 52 km north of Auckland New Zealand in a beach house over looking Shakespear Regional Park, a mainland Bird Santuary.
I can do specialist day trips to local Birding sites, in particular,Shakespear Park, TiriTiri Matangi Island,Murawai gannets ,Tawharanui Regional Park. These are precious sites unsurpassed for rare endemics and other Natives.
Best if you have own transport and stay in Gulf harbour near these sites and my home.
It is possible to do an airport pick up and day trip but it is 72 km to airport one way and ridiculous rush hour fraffic jams. It is possible to come to gulf harbour via ferry early morning and bird from there.
Can be planned to suite and would expect gas money for all travel and food by arrangement.
I am a volunteer guide on Tititirimatangi and have done about 750 guided walks there..
Will consider all requests.
- Donald
I am retired, living 52 km north of Auckland New Zealand in a beach house over looking Shakespear Regional Park, a mainland Bird Santuary.
I can do specialist day trips to local Birding sites, in particular,Shakespear Park, TiriTiri Matangi Island,Murawai gannets ,Tawharanui Regional Park. These are precious sites unsurpassed for rare endemics and other Natives.
Best if you have own transport and stay in Gulf harbour near these sites and my home.
It is possible to do an airport pick up and day trip but it is 72 km to airport one way and ridiculous rush hour fraffic jams. It is possible to come to gulf harbour via ferry early morning and bird from there.
Can be planned to suite and would expect gas money for all travel and food by arrangement.
I am a volunteer guide on Tititirimatangi and have done about 750 guided walks there..
Will consider all requests.
- Donald
Area
TiritiriMstangi Island ,Shskespear regional park, miranda, Tawharanui
Area Birds
New Zealand natives and endemics ,migrants, exotics ,introduced
TiritiriMstangi Island ,Shskespear regional park, miranda, Tawharanui
Area Birds
New Zealand natives and endemics ,migrants, exotics ,introduced
Interests
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, swimming, beach, car, long walk, tourist site, museum, theatre
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, swimming, beach, car, long walk, tourist site, museum, theatre
D.C. Watson
Maps
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Available
Weekend
Languages
English
Note
My wife and I live in Wellington and enjoy taking BirdingPals to the local birding hotspots in the Wellington area. I am familiar with the best birding areas in the lower North Island and happy to provide advice to visitors.
My wife and I live in Wellington and enjoy taking BirdingPals to the local birding hotspots in the Wellington area. I am familiar with the best birding areas in the lower North Island and happy to provide advice to visitors.
Area
Local hotspots include Zealandia in Wellington city, Pauatahanui harbour, and further afield to Waikanae and Foxton (Manawatu Estuary).
Area Birds
Zealandia has many of the rare native species including Saddleback, Stitchbird, Takahe, Kaka, Red-Crowned Parakeet, Robin, Whitehead. There are Fernbird at Pauatahanui and Waikanae and Wrybill at Foxton.
Local hotspots include Zealandia in Wellington city, Pauatahanui harbour, and further afield to Waikanae and Foxton (Manawatu Estuary).
Area Birds
Zealandia has many of the rare native species including Saddleback, Stitchbird, Takahe, Kaka, Red-Crowned Parakeet, Robin, Whitehead. There are Fernbird at Pauatahanui and Waikanae and Wrybill at Foxton.
Interests
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, hiking Travel: train, car, biking, long walk Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, outdoors, nature spot, lake Attend: concert, theatre, live music, sports event
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, hiking Travel: train, car, biking, long walk Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, outdoors, nature spot, lake Attend: concert, theatre, live music, sports event
N. Allen
Maps
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Available
Weekend
Languages
English, Korean
Note
I came to the Christchurch area in 1997 from the UK, being interested in birds off and on (mostly on) since I was five. Was Canterbury regional rep of the Ornithological Society of NZ for 7 years from 1999 and currently edit that Society's quarterly magazine, Southern Bird. The recent arrival of my and my partner's (Hyeza) first child has slowed down travel and birdwatching, but prior to that I covered all the easily accessible corners of the South Island and Stewart Island, and good chunks of the North Island as well, birding as I went.
I class myself as a generalist amateur ornithologist/birder not concentrating on any particular group of birds or habitat, and enjoying both fieldwork (e.g. bird counts and atlas work) and just the birds themselves. I'd struggle to choose a favourite species, but Eastern Curlews are pretty neat birds and hearing a call that surely came from the supposedly extinct South Island Kokako a few years ago was a stop-in-the-tracks jaw-dropping experience that I'd like to repeat some time - preferably with a sighting and photo to go with it!
Birding in the Christchurch area affords a good mixture of shore, wetland and forest birds. The city is often bypassed by foreign birders, who perhaps lump it with the rather birdless and highly altered Canterbury Plains to the north and west. However, areas of the original swamp on which the city was founded are still present, or have been re-created, making possible very close views of species such as New Zealand Scaup, Grey Teal and Australasian Shoveler.
The estuarine eastern fringe has good numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits, Pied and Variable Oystercatchers, shags/cormorants, Royal Spoonbills and gulls/terns. Nearby bush on Banks Peninsula rings to the songs of Bellbirds, the whooshing of New Zealand Pigeon wings, and Tomtits are making a comeback in places.
Further to the east around Akaroa these latter bush species can be seen in greater numbers, with the addition of Brown Creeper and Rifleman.
The huge wetland that is Lake Ellesmere is close by to the city with thousands of wildfowl, especially Black Swan and Grey Teal; large flocks of Banded Dotterels, Pied Stilts and Wrybills at certain times of the year; and records of many nationally rare waders (the first NZ records of Painted Snipe, Little Stint, Long-toed Stint and Stilt Sandpiper were from here).
Just over two hours to the west is Arthur's Pass National Park with its New Zealand Robins, Yellow-crowned Parakeets, Great Spotted Kiwis and an almost complete range of other forest birds, as well as Kea, Rock Wren and other alpine species.
Two and a half hours to the north is the seabird heaven of Kaikoura and a huge range of albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters.
I came to the Christchurch area in 1997 from the UK, being interested in birds off and on (mostly on) since I was five. Was Canterbury regional rep of the Ornithological Society of NZ for 7 years from 1999 and currently edit that Society's quarterly magazine, Southern Bird. The recent arrival of my and my partner's (Hyeza) first child has slowed down travel and birdwatching, but prior to that I covered all the easily accessible corners of the South Island and Stewart Island, and good chunks of the North Island as well, birding as I went.
I class myself as a generalist amateur ornithologist/birder not concentrating on any particular group of birds or habitat, and enjoying both fieldwork (e.g. bird counts and atlas work) and just the birds themselves. I'd struggle to choose a favourite species, but Eastern Curlews are pretty neat birds and hearing a call that surely came from the supposedly extinct South Island Kokako a few years ago was a stop-in-the-tracks jaw-dropping experience that I'd like to repeat some time - preferably with a sighting and photo to go with it!
Birding in the Christchurch area affords a good mixture of shore, wetland and forest birds. The city is often bypassed by foreign birders, who perhaps lump it with the rather birdless and highly altered Canterbury Plains to the north and west. However, areas of the original swamp on which the city was founded are still present, or have been re-created, making possible very close views of species such as New Zealand Scaup, Grey Teal and Australasian Shoveler.
The estuarine eastern fringe has good numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits, Pied and Variable Oystercatchers, shags/cormorants, Royal Spoonbills and gulls/terns. Nearby bush on Banks Peninsula rings to the songs of Bellbirds, the whooshing of New Zealand Pigeon wings, and Tomtits are making a comeback in places.
Further to the east around Akaroa these latter bush species can be seen in greater numbers, with the addition of Brown Creeper and Rifleman.
The huge wetland that is Lake Ellesmere is close by to the city with thousands of wildfowl, especially Black Swan and Grey Teal; large flocks of Banded Dotterels, Pied Stilts and Wrybills at certain times of the year; and records of many nationally rare waders (the first NZ records of Painted Snipe, Little Stint, Long-toed Stint and Stilt Sandpiper were from here).
Just over two hours to the west is Arthur's Pass National Park with its New Zealand Robins, Yellow-crowned Parakeets, Great Spotted Kiwis and an almost complete range of other forest birds, as well as Kea, Rock Wren and other alpine species.
Two and a half hours to the north is the seabird heaven of Kaikoura and a huge range of albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters.
Interests
Nature in general, spectacular scenery, history, industrial archaeology, good (but not expensive) food and drink.
Nature in general, spectacular scenery, history, industrial archaeology, good (but not expensive) food and drink.
D. & L. Hadden
Maps
near Malanda on the Atherton Tableland & near Nelson in the South Island, Queensland & New Zealand, Australia & New Zealand
Available
Anytime
Languages
English
Note
I am a retired teacher now in my 70s but interested in birds since childhood and have been photographing birds for 60 years. From about May until October we live in Australia and during the rest of the year in NZ.
I am a retired teacher now in my 70s but interested in birds since childhood and have been photographing birds for 60 years. From about May until October we live in Australia and during the rest of the year in NZ.
Area
Our Area. We have 2 areas we can show you. In Australia we live near Malanda in the middle of a block of tropical rainforest and in NZ we live near Nelson at the top of the South Island.
Near Nelson there are areas of native bush with tomtits, rifleman, etc and coastal scrub areas with fernbird.
There is a sandspit with double-banded plover and migratory waders in winter plumage.
In Australia, Malanda is on the Atherton Tableland with numerous birding hotspots. In the forest around my house is Grey-headed Robin, Bower's Shrikethrush, Bridled Honeyeater, Spotted Catbird, and a Bird of Paradise species the Victoria's Riflebird.
Area Birds
Grey-headed Robin, Bower's Shrikethrush, Bridled Honeyeater, Spotted Catbird, and a Bird of Paradise species the Victoria's Riflebird
Our Area. We have 2 areas we can show you. In Australia we live near Malanda in the middle of a block of tropical rainforest and in NZ we live near Nelson at the top of the South Island.
Near Nelson there are areas of native bush with tomtits, rifleman, etc and coastal scrub areas with fernbird.
There is a sandspit with double-banded plover and migratory waders in winter plumage.
In Australia, Malanda is on the Atherton Tableland with numerous birding hotspots. In the forest around my house is Grey-headed Robin, Bower's Shrikethrush, Bridled Honeyeater, Spotted Catbird, and a Bird of Paradise species the Victoria's Riflebird.
Area Birds
Grey-headed Robin, Bower's Shrikethrush, Bridled Honeyeater, Spotted Catbird, and a Bird of Paradise species the Victoria's Riflebird
Interests
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, skiing, swimming, beach, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise, pilot, dog sled, snow mobile Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, tech Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swap Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, skiing, swimming, beach, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise, pilot, dog sled, snow mobile Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, tech Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swap Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
PBennett
Maps
Nelson, , New Zealand
Available
Languages
Note
Area
727 Aniseed valley RD1 Richmond
727 Aniseed valley RD1 Richmond
Interests
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, skiing, swimming, beach, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise, pilot, dog sled, snow mobile Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, tech Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swap Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, skiing, swimming, beach, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise, pilot, dog sled, snow mobile Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, tech Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swap Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
LAnderson
Maps
Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Available
Anytime
Languages
English
Note
Recently retired I live in Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. I belong to 'Forest & Bird' and 'Birds NZ' and have recently co-convened a course "Introduction to Ornithology" - we had 30 students! I volunteer at both the Ahuriri Estuary and at Cape Sanctuary. I am active in preserving our local estuary (Ahuriri). In Hawke's Bay there is an Australasian gannet colony (October - March). Needless to say I am passionate about birds and birdwatching!
Recently retired I live in Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. I belong to 'Forest & Bird' and 'Birds NZ' and have recently co-convened a course "Introduction to Ornithology" - we had 30 students! I volunteer at both the Ahuriri Estuary and at Cape Sanctuary. I am active in preserving our local estuary (Ahuriri). In Hawke's Bay there is an Australasian gannet colony (October - March). Needless to say I am passionate about birds and birdwatching!
Area
Greenmeadows
Area Birds
Tui, bar-tailed godwits (Sept - April), Shags - 4 species, gannets - australasia
Greenmeadows
Area Birds
Tui, bar-tailed godwits (Sept - April), Shags - 4 species, gannets - australasia
Interests
Nature: birdwatching
Nature: birdwatching
L. Regenmorter
Maps
Arrowtown, Otago, New Zealand
Available
Anytime
Languages
English
Note
I am retired environmental scientist from the USA living on the South Island from September 2019 to February 2020. Always interested in going birding with other locals and visitors.
I am retired environmental scientist from the USA living on the South Island from September 2019 to February 2020. Always interested in going birding with other locals and visitors.
Area
Central Otago / Lakes District, the Queenstown area.
Area Birds
Endemic and native birds
Central Otago / Lakes District, the Queenstown area.
Area Birds
Endemic and native birds
Interests
Nature: birdwatching
Nature: birdwatching
K. George
Maps
Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand
Available
Anytime
Languages
English, Te Reo Maori
Note
Retired ex-professional photographer (people not birds) , early 70's, enjoy birding my local patch which is the Bay of Plenty on the eastern side of the North Island of New Zealand. Through the various NZ birder social networks, I stay current with what's being seen around the country and I can make recommendations for other places to visit around New Zealand. Happy to help with any birding inquiries
Retired ex-professional photographer (people not birds) , early 70's, enjoy birding my local patch which is the Bay of Plenty on the eastern side of the North Island of New Zealand. Through the various NZ birder social networks, I stay current with what's being seen around the country and I can make recommendations for other places to visit around New Zealand. Happy to help with any birding inquiries
Area
Harbours and estuaries of Maketu, Little Waihi, Matata, Whakatane and Ohiwa. I can also include the Rotorua lakes.
Area Birds
Tui, Bellbird, Grey Warbler, Fantail, NZ Falcon, NZ Pigeon, NZ Dotterel, Banded Dotterel, Wrybill, Pied Stilt, Shelduck, Grey Teal, Black Swan, Dabchick, Royal Spoonbill, various egrets and herons, and more. We also have most of the introduced species locally. Non-breeding migrants are Bar-Tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Pacific Golden Plover, Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, various terns and plovers. There are also a large number of seabirds found in the local waters.
Harbours and estuaries of Maketu, Little Waihi, Matata, Whakatane and Ohiwa. I can also include the Rotorua lakes.
Area Birds
Tui, Bellbird, Grey Warbler, Fantail, NZ Falcon, NZ Pigeon, NZ Dotterel, Banded Dotterel, Wrybill, Pied Stilt, Shelduck, Grey Teal, Black Swan, Dabchick, Royal Spoonbill, various egrets and herons, and more. We also have most of the introduced species locally. Non-breeding migrants are Bar-Tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Pacific Golden Plover, Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, various terns and plovers. There are also a large number of seabirds found in the local waters.
Interests
Nature: Birding, twitching, butterflies, wildlife, road trips in New Zealand and Australia. Chasing a 200 species total for NZ and 600 for Australia.
Nature: Birding, twitching, butterflies, wildlife, road trips in New Zealand and Australia. Chasing a 200 species total for NZ and 600 for Australia.
SOdlin
Maps
Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
Available
Languages
Note
Have limited mobility, use sticks
Have limited mobility, use sticks
Area
Nature capital of New Zealand. University city.
Nature capital of New Zealand. University city.
Interests
Nature: birdwatching, photography, drawing and painting Travel: stroll, train, bus, car Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, vineyard, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, tech, galleries Attend: concert, theatre, live music, convention, political rally, protest,
Nature: birdwatching, photography, drawing and painting Travel: stroll, train, bus, car Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, vineyard, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, tech, galleries Attend: concert, theatre, live music, convention, political rally, protest,
SChambers
Maps
Cashmere, Christchurch, , New Zealand
Available
Languages
Note
Am semiretired academic and just a bird watcher. Not a professional birder.
Am semiretired academic and just a bird watcher. Not a professional birder.
Interests
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, swimming, beach, Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant,vineyar d, monument, arboretum
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, swimming, beach, Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant,vineyar d, monument, arboretum
H. Rogers
Maps
North Island, Auckland, New Zealand
Available
Anytime
Languages
English
Note
I'm a keen amatuer birder. Heritage conservator and trained teacher. I've belonged to Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalist Trust for the past 17 years and guide on Tirititi Matangi Island. I belong to the OSNZ (Birds New Zealand) and for the past two years have volunteered as OSNZ librarian.
I'm always learning new things about birds, am not a professional biologist, like birders and birding and going wild places.
I'm a keen amatuer birder. Heritage conservator and trained teacher. I've belonged to Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalist Trust for the past 17 years and guide on Tirititi Matangi Island. I belong to the OSNZ (Birds New Zealand) and for the past two years have volunteered as OSNZ librarian.
I'm always learning new things about birds, am not a professional biologist, like birders and birding and going wild places.
Area
Auckland is an on an isthmus surrounded by sea. To the west the wild coastline of the Tasman sea and steep hills covered in sub-tropical rain forest.
To the east is the Hauraki Gulf and the Pacific ocean. Many islands pepper the gulf and I volunteer as a guide on one of these: Tiritiri Matangi. I
Auckland is an on an isthmus surrounded by sea. To the west the wild coastline of the Tasman sea and steep hills covered in sub-tropical rain forest.
To the east is the Hauraki Gulf and the Pacific ocean. Many islands pepper the gulf and I volunteer as a guide on one of these: Tiritiri Matangi. I
Interests
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, long walk
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, long walk
KleGrove
Maps
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Available
Anytime
Languages
English
Note
Volunteer for shorebird monitoring and habitat maintenance.
Volunteer for shorebird monitoring and habitat maintenance.
Area
Estuarine habitat supporting migrant shorebirds.
Estuarine habitat supporting migrant shorebirds.
Interests
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, skiing, swimming, beach, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise, pilot, dog sled, snow mobile Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, tech Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swap Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, skiing, swimming, beach, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise, pilot, dog sled, snow mobile Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, tech Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swap Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
Professional Birding Guides
A professional Birdingpal guide can customize your tour, and you will see the birds you want.
Your guide is also your travel companion, who will make sure you experience the native people, scenery, culture, history and food, first hand.
Hiring a Birdingpal guide will boost the local economy and help protect birds other wildlife and their habitat
A professional Birdingpal guide can customize your tour, and you will see the birds you want.
Your guide is also your travel companion, who will make sure you experience the native people, scenery, culture, history and food, first hand.
Hiring a Birdingpal guide will boost the local economy and help protect birds other wildlife and their habitat
N. Robertson
Maps
Te Anau, Southland, New Zealand
Available
Anytime
Languages
English
Note
Keen birder for 40 years in UK now based in South Island New Zealand since 2005. I am a professional nature guide with a major ecotourism company operating in Fiordland. I am based on the edge of Fiordland National Park the last stronghold of many NZ forest endemics and within 2 hours of a spectacular coastline home to a wide variety of shorebirds and seabirds.
Keen birder for 40 years in UK now based in South Island New Zealand since 2005. I am a professional nature guide with a major ecotourism company operating in Fiordland. I am based on the edge of Fiordland National Park the last stronghold of many NZ forest endemics and within 2 hours of a spectacular coastline home to a wide variety of shorebirds and seabirds.