James Dale

Kōtare (sacred kingfishers) are brutal and highly effective predators. We have a pair nesting on our section, and I am continually amazed at the diversity...

A great way to enjoy some of the amazing wildlife in the area is by taking a dip in the ocean with your mask and...

Insects startle quite easily. It’s a reasonable thing to do really, because any large-scale movement within an insect’s field of view will often be associated...

Where I live, in Arkles Bay, the beach had the storm surge from Cyclone Gabrielle going into The Strand and into resident’s yards and homes....

Raising babies is hard work. The challenges associated with parenting require investments of time, energy and resources. Among bird species, there is an astonishing diversity...

We had the most wonderful visitor to our garden last week. It was quite early in the morning, and I was watching a nearby tūī...

Pukeko are one of the most fascinating of our native fauna. Often unappreciated, these intelligent and charismatic birds are very easy to watch. Next time...

Aotearoa New Zealand is famous for birdsong. The haunting music of the kōkako, the diverse harsh calls and whistles of the kākā, the piercing screams...

As winter approaches, our local birds shift to behavioural strategies that help them survive the coming seasonal challenges. Many kōtare (sacred kingfishers) move to coastal...

In our garden, we are blessed with a medium sized karaka tree.  This is a New Zealand endemic species that is relatively abundant around the...