Native

Tag: Native

Crafty Crows Learn to Eat Poisonous Cane Toads

Australian Crows have learned how to make a meal out of the toxic invasive Cane Toad. Crows often get a bad rap, but these birds are actually very intelligent and adaptable. Members of the family Corvidae show a capability to learn and problem-solve that is unparalleled among other birds. These clever Australian corvids have learned […]

Written by on February 7, 2018

Rare NZ Plant, Ngutukākā, Saved from Extinction

The New Zealand Critically Endangered native plant Ngutukākā was pushed to the brink of extinction by invasive species but was saved by conservation efforts.  The Critically Endangered Ngutukākā–or Kakabeak–is endemic to New Zealand. The plant was named for its flowers, which resemble the beak of the Kaka, an endangered bird native to New Zealand. The plant almost disappeared from the […]

Written by on July 14, 2016

Protecting the Kiwi, Maori Culture, and New Zealand’s Ecosystem

Endangered Kiwi chick hatches at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia.  The Kiwi is an important native bird of New Zealand. The feathered yet flightless creature was named by the Maori–the first people to ever live in New Zealand. The Kiwi is integral to Maori culture and considered sacred. It traditionally served as an occasional food […]

Written by on July 1, 2016