On the North Island there’s a coastal area of intertidal flats that attracts thousands of migratory birds each year.  Open every day except Christmas, they ask for only a donation, in exchange for the chance to view these migratory wading birds on the coast of the Firth of Thames.

New Zealand is a favorite destination for bird-watching tourists from around the world.  The island climate and isolated geographical location have made for unique evolutionary results.  The birds have existed for a very long time, with no major predators, so many have lost the ability to fly.

One examle is the kakapo, a New Zealand parrot that is unable to fly.  The birds have also grown into some of the largest birds ever, thanks to lack of significant predators such as rats or cats.  The moa can grow to be more than seven feet tall, but unfortunately were hunted into extinction a few hundred years ago.  These days, native birds including the black robin and the takahe and kea are protected to ensure their survival for the years to come.