WALT: investigate an animal that resides in New Zealand
The morepork is a native New Zealand bird.it is nocturnal and is the only bird in the world to know its name. Its distinctive “morepork” call is heard commonly heard throughout NZ.
Habitat
Morepork’s live in the trees of large forests and protected wildlife parks. They normally burrow in dead tree trunks that have been hollowed out. They live in small families of 3-4.
Diet
Moreporks catch and consume a wide variety of small animals, including large insects, small birds, (especially silvereyes), and small mammals. The diet varies with season, generally in proportion to abundance of prey species. Insects taken include huhu beetles, weta, cicadas and large moths.
Threats
Prone to predation when nesting, by cats, possum, rats and mustelids. When nesting on the ground eggs and chicks may also be susceptible to predation by pigs and hedgehogs. Sex bias towards males recorded in the Eglington Valley suggests that females may be vulnerable to predation when incubating and brooding in cavities.
By Will Field