Ulva Island - The Bird Island
Kaka (New Zealand forest parrot) on a tree
Ulva Island is a small island located in the waters around Stewart Island of New Zealand.
It is a predator free island and is classified as a bird sanctuary, there is no settlement on the island.
There are several tracks you can walk on, all of them are rated as easy and you can complete the entire thing in about 2 hours
It is a predator free island and is classified as a bird sanctuary, there is no settlement on the island.
There are several tracks you can walk on, all of them are rated as easy and you can complete the entire thing in about 2 hours
Bellbird sitting on drift wood
We got on the first boat going to the island, so we'll have more time to look for the birds, because this island is predator free, the birds, which originally didn't need to protect or compete against mammals, can roam free and reproduce on the island with greater ease, this brings us the opportunity to see bird life that is usually a lot harder to find on the main islands.
Weka (a New Zealand flightless bird)
We walked around with our cameras at the ready and our eyes and ears sharp, looking for birds in the trees, and between the bushes. At first it was pretty hard to find them, but as the day warmed and the sun picked from between the clouds we saw more and more birds.
We saw a lot of birds we're used to seeing, the Tomtit, Robin, Tui and Bellbird, but we also saw some rarer birds like the Saddleback and the Kaka.
Walking around hearing the birds and seeing them all around you is quite special and very heart warming for us, we love seeing them roaming around free and beautiful.
Walking around hearing the birds and seeing them all around you is quite special and very heart warming for us, we love seeing them roaming around free and beautiful.
Kaka stretching on a branch
All in all the experience on Ulva island was cool and is very recommended to all bird watchers and wildlife lovers out there
Extra - My Video from Ulva Island
