zooboy28
Well-Known Member
I visited Mount Bruce on 3 February 2013, a very hot and sunny Sunday. This is a little review and update on the place. There is an excellent introduction to the park here: http://www.zoochat.com/17/national-wildlife-centre-mt-bruce-13759/, and in essence the park has not changed much since that time. This photo of the map (http://www.zoochat.com/102/map-mt-bruce-30590/) is still current and useful, and I will point out the current inhabitants of each aviary. One thing that has changed significantly over the last five years since Chlidonias' visit is the entry price, which has doubled to $20 (and no student prices).
The entry building seems very modern and features a small exhibition on New Zealand's natural history, which is very well done. This appears to be a relatively new addition, as it isn't featured on the 2008 map. There is a very cool holographic video (don't know what it is actually, but thats what it looks like) of the story of the Huia, and a replica hollow tree, which you can step into, and use a torch to find (models of) various nocturnal species dwelling there. And when you point the torch at them they make noises!!!! It was really fun. This was a very engaging and educational exhibition, and I would rank it higher than Zealandia's version. Within this exhibition is a tank holding a juvenile Cook Strait Tuatara (born at Mt. Bruce in October 2005).
Stepping outside, a wooden boardwalk crosses Bruce Stream and takes visitors into the lowland forest. The first aviary (Aviary 1) holds a single male Orange-fronted Parakeet, who was very loud and active, and rather difficult to photograph (http://www.zoochat.com/102/orange-fronted-parakeet-mount-bruce-february-307692/). This aviary, like all of the other forest aviaries, was meshed, planted very well and of a very large size, superior to almost all other native bird aviaries in the country. Recrossing the stream, we came to the next aviary (8), which was divided into two sections, the first holding a second male Orange-fronted Parakeet, and the second holding a pair of Red-crowned Parakeets (http://www.zoochat.com/102/parakeet-aviary-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307694/).
We then entered the Kiwi House, which is spacious and modern (it says on their website it has been redeveloped, but it doesn't say when). There are two enclosures for kiwi, both very large and holding one North Island Brown Kiwi. The first of these is Manukura (http://www.zoochat.com/102/white-kiwi-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307693/), the first white kiwi ever born in captivity (1 May 2011), while the second is a slightly younger normal brown kiwi. Both exhibits were lit to a great level, not too dark like Wellington for example, and both kiwi were easy to see moving around. Between the two kiwi enclosures is the 'critter room', with terrariums for Wellington Green Gecko, Rough Gecko and Tuatara. This was followed by a small theatre and a kiwi nursery, where a small window showed a week-old kiwi chick sleeping. On the outside of the house was a large "outdoor" tuatara exhibit.
It was now time for the 3pm North Island Kaka feeding, which is held in a small clearing and attende by anywhere from 4-40 kaka each day. The species was reintroduced to the Mt. Bruce forest, and now number around 170 birds, enough to be considered a wild population. Several of the parrots were already present when we arrived, bouncing around the trees excitedly. A ranger soon arrived and set about filling up the three feeders, followed closely by the kaka, and a few sparrows. The food on offer was a mix of corn, nuts and seeds, with nectar (jam and water) available through small "straws" (http://www.zoochat.com/102/kaka-feeding-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307695/). There were around 20-25 kaka feeding, and the ranger gave a good talk about the species.
Continuing around the park, we came to Aviary 7, which held another pair of Red-crowned Parakeets. These were reared as nestlings from Somes Island in the 2012 breeding season. Slightly further along the track was a nest-cam, showing a live feed from the pair's nest box, where several chicks had hatched over the past few days (http://www.zoochat.com/102/kakariki-nestcam-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307696/). This is a brilliant way to engage visitors and demonstrate conservation programmes at work. Further along was Aviary 6, which held an elderly pair of Stitchbirds, of which there are around 1000 indivisuals left (http://www.zoochat.com/102/stitchbird-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307697/).
We then entered the Wetland area, which featured a number of Long-finned Eels and some Mallards. At Aviary 9 were a number of Blue Ducks with ducklings, as well as a very industrial looking row of aviaries that were off-display. There were no signs stating what these aviaries held, but in 2008 they apparently held Campbell Island Teal and Shore Plovers. Back in the forest, the kiwi pre-release enclosure (Aviary 5), was the next stop. This isn't actually an aviary, but rather a section of forest contained within a predator-proof fence. It hasn't been used for several years, and has suffered damage as a result of tree fall.
Aviary 4 held a single female kaka, Tiny, who was bred last season, while Aviary 3 held a pair of kaka, Mocha and Cheeno, and their three chicks from this season. The final aviary, Aviary 2, was divided into three section, the first of which held a female Kokako. She was rescued in the Hunua Ranges and hand-raised at Hamilton Zoo, before arriving at Mount Bruce in 2003. She is apparently very friendly, although we didn't actually see her. The next two sections held a male and female stitchbird respectively, the female nesting at the back. Neither were visible.
The path had now looped back to the entry building, where the deck of the café gave views out over the final enclosure, a big grassy area dotted with shrubs and flaxes, with a large pond in the centre. The star of this exhibit is a lone Takahe, which was feeding in the middle distance (http://www.zoochat.com/102/takahe-enclosure-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307698/). Very cool to see, as there are very few of these birds on-display. This was the first time I have seen this species in a ‘zoo’ setting, although I have seen one at Massey University wildlife vet centre.
Overall I was very impressed with Mount Bruce; it is a very well-presented collection, with some of the best enclosures I have seen for native species. Admittedly there are only a few species (and most of these are represented by one or just a few individuals), but the ‘working conservation facility’ feel makes this acceptable. There are also a large number of wild birds in the immediate area, including populations of most of the species displayed. Wild species we saw included Rifleman, Wood Pigeon, Tui, Kaka and Fantail, most of which are common forest species anyway. The interpretations were excellent, and the individual signs detailing aviary inhabitants were great. Brilliant place all round
The entry building seems very modern and features a small exhibition on New Zealand's natural history, which is very well done. This appears to be a relatively new addition, as it isn't featured on the 2008 map. There is a very cool holographic video (don't know what it is actually, but thats what it looks like) of the story of the Huia, and a replica hollow tree, which you can step into, and use a torch to find (models of) various nocturnal species dwelling there. And when you point the torch at them they make noises!!!! It was really fun. This was a very engaging and educational exhibition, and I would rank it higher than Zealandia's version. Within this exhibition is a tank holding a juvenile Cook Strait Tuatara (born at Mt. Bruce in October 2005).
Stepping outside, a wooden boardwalk crosses Bruce Stream and takes visitors into the lowland forest. The first aviary (Aviary 1) holds a single male Orange-fronted Parakeet, who was very loud and active, and rather difficult to photograph (http://www.zoochat.com/102/orange-fronted-parakeet-mount-bruce-february-307692/). This aviary, like all of the other forest aviaries, was meshed, planted very well and of a very large size, superior to almost all other native bird aviaries in the country. Recrossing the stream, we came to the next aviary (8), which was divided into two sections, the first holding a second male Orange-fronted Parakeet, and the second holding a pair of Red-crowned Parakeets (http://www.zoochat.com/102/parakeet-aviary-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307694/).
We then entered the Kiwi House, which is spacious and modern (it says on their website it has been redeveloped, but it doesn't say when). There are two enclosures for kiwi, both very large and holding one North Island Brown Kiwi. The first of these is Manukura (http://www.zoochat.com/102/white-kiwi-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307693/), the first white kiwi ever born in captivity (1 May 2011), while the second is a slightly younger normal brown kiwi. Both exhibits were lit to a great level, not too dark like Wellington for example, and both kiwi were easy to see moving around. Between the two kiwi enclosures is the 'critter room', with terrariums for Wellington Green Gecko, Rough Gecko and Tuatara. This was followed by a small theatre and a kiwi nursery, where a small window showed a week-old kiwi chick sleeping. On the outside of the house was a large "outdoor" tuatara exhibit.
It was now time for the 3pm North Island Kaka feeding, which is held in a small clearing and attende by anywhere from 4-40 kaka each day. The species was reintroduced to the Mt. Bruce forest, and now number around 170 birds, enough to be considered a wild population. Several of the parrots were already present when we arrived, bouncing around the trees excitedly. A ranger soon arrived and set about filling up the three feeders, followed closely by the kaka, and a few sparrows. The food on offer was a mix of corn, nuts and seeds, with nectar (jam and water) available through small "straws" (http://www.zoochat.com/102/kaka-feeding-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307695/). There were around 20-25 kaka feeding, and the ranger gave a good talk about the species.
Continuing around the park, we came to Aviary 7, which held another pair of Red-crowned Parakeets. These were reared as nestlings from Somes Island in the 2012 breeding season. Slightly further along the track was a nest-cam, showing a live feed from the pair's nest box, where several chicks had hatched over the past few days (http://www.zoochat.com/102/kakariki-nestcam-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307696/). This is a brilliant way to engage visitors and demonstrate conservation programmes at work. Further along was Aviary 6, which held an elderly pair of Stitchbirds, of which there are around 1000 indivisuals left (http://www.zoochat.com/102/stitchbird-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307697/).
We then entered the Wetland area, which featured a number of Long-finned Eels and some Mallards. At Aviary 9 were a number of Blue Ducks with ducklings, as well as a very industrial looking row of aviaries that were off-display. There were no signs stating what these aviaries held, but in 2008 they apparently held Campbell Island Teal and Shore Plovers. Back in the forest, the kiwi pre-release enclosure (Aviary 5), was the next stop. This isn't actually an aviary, but rather a section of forest contained within a predator-proof fence. It hasn't been used for several years, and has suffered damage as a result of tree fall.
Aviary 4 held a single female kaka, Tiny, who was bred last season, while Aviary 3 held a pair of kaka, Mocha and Cheeno, and their three chicks from this season. The final aviary, Aviary 2, was divided into three section, the first of which held a female Kokako. She was rescued in the Hunua Ranges and hand-raised at Hamilton Zoo, before arriving at Mount Bruce in 2003. She is apparently very friendly, although we didn't actually see her. The next two sections held a male and female stitchbird respectively, the female nesting at the back. Neither were visible.
The path had now looped back to the entry building, where the deck of the café gave views out over the final enclosure, a big grassy area dotted with shrubs and flaxes, with a large pond in the centre. The star of this exhibit is a lone Takahe, which was feeding in the middle distance (http://www.zoochat.com/102/takahe-enclosure-mount-bruce-february-2013-a-307698/). Very cool to see, as there are very few of these birds on-display. This was the first time I have seen this species in a ‘zoo’ setting, although I have seen one at Massey University wildlife vet centre.
Overall I was very impressed with Mount Bruce; it is a very well-presented collection, with some of the best enclosures I have seen for native species. Admittedly there are only a few species (and most of these are represented by one or just a few individuals), but the ‘working conservation facility’ feel makes this acceptable. There are also a large number of wild birds in the immediate area, including populations of most of the species displayed. Wild species we saw included Rifleman, Wood Pigeon, Tui, Kaka and Fantail, most of which are common forest species anyway. The interpretations were excellent, and the individual signs detailing aviary inhabitants were great. Brilliant place all round
