Tikumu’s letter

Press, 3 February 1981, Page 16

Tikumu’s letter

Dean Deadens Friday .is a public holiday in remembrance of the day the ; Trcaty/of Waitangi-was signed .141 years ago. The agreement accepted ; by leaders .of Maori tribes and/representatives of. Pakeha settlers paved the way for the two races to work together to build a nation in the “land of the long white cloud.” New Zealanders: everywhere are proud to be known as “kiwis.”/ Many countries have adopted an animal or bird as a symbol, of an ideal. The . national bird of; the United States of America is a species of eagle, chosen . for its strength and courage. The emblem of Sweden is the proud lion,

“the king of the Jungle.” • You will be able to think of other examples of national symbols. Compared with the eagle and the lion, our kiwi is small and unobstrusive, but is has a unique position in the bird world. ' When it comes to the ■ crunch, . the seemingly defenceless kiwi is a fine example of will-power and ■determination. . The three species of kiwi living in New Zealand - are not . known to ; exist anywhere else in the world, except in zoos. It is ’thought’ that their nearest , relative was the ' moa which died out about 700 years ago. ■ <; The kiwi looks all body, -bill and feet. It cannot fly, and. does hot seem to be

built for sprinting. With short sturdy legs and large feet ■/ spaced well, apart, it runs with an awkward rolling gait. The kiwi lives in forest country, and you would be lucky to see one in its natural home because it rarely appears in daylight. At night it comes out to ; forage for//, grubs and : worms. The,kiwi has poor ; vision, but is has other-well-developed senses. s ; ' It is . the only bird; known to have open nos-' trils at the very tip of the bill. It has a keen sense of smell and finds food by scent rather than by sight. As well, it has iong hairy - bristles at the base of the bill and uses them to feel its way through the forest and bush. 4 -. / Kiwis, nest in burrows

underground.' The male sits On the egg for most of the incubation period. The; femalet usually; 'lays only one/large-egg, nearly One-quarter of her; normal body weight. The egg takes between 75, and 'BO days to hatch. It is more rare than it used to be, but the species has managed to ' suirviVe the loss ;bf forest homes, and the; danger of , being hunted by ’ fierce, ground animals. ? - ; Although \we / rarely meet the kiwi we see; its picture even on television as it climbs the steps to the nest ,it shares with a cat. ’ •

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