Elfdoll
View allAll Photos Tagged ruru,
Photographed at the Hawk Conservancy Trust (www.hawk-conservancy.org/)
The ruru (or morepork) is a small, dark, forest-dwelling owl. Found in both native and plantation forests, its distinctive “more-pork” call is commonly heard at night in many urban parks and well-vegetated suburbs. Ruru are relatively common throughout much of New Zealand but are sparse through the eastern and central South Island. Their diet consists of insects, small mammals and birds, which it hunts at night.
(Thanks to www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/ for the description)
Saw this Ruru (Morepork) when walking the Sledge Track Today. Unfortunately I only had the 24-105mm lens and this is the closest I could get. First time I've ever seen one. The thing that amazed me is that when it flew away through the bush it was completely silent.
"The morepork is a small, dark, forest-dwelling owl. Found in both native and plantation forests, its distinctive “more-pork” call is commonly heard at night in many urban parks and well-vegetated suburbs. Moreporks are relatively common throughout much of New Zealand but are sparse through the eastern and central South Island. Their diet consists of insects, small mammals and birds, which it hunts at night." nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/morepork
An Athene noctua (Little owl, Ruru nohinohi) perched on a tree branch in the late afternoon / early evening in Christchurch, New Zealand. Also known as German owls as this is where they were introduced from.
I hear these a lot, but typically after dark where even when I find them I can't photograph them. This is the first time I have managed to photograph one. Unfortunately it wasn't too keen on being photographed, so I wasn't able to seek a better composition (not too happy with the bright sky - which I have largely attenuated).
Admittedly it is a bit of a rough edit as I don't think I've bothered with a raw conversion in years - but I felt it was a special enough occasion to bestir myself to greater levels of artistic license.
One hundred years ago, the once-large stands of native forest area around Ruru were criss-crossed with tiny logging railways.
Today, logging natives is prohibited and the bush is making a comeback, but it will take hundreds of years for the trees to reclaim this land.
Today coal still runs on the rails through this area, although in reduced volumes... and who knows for how much longer with Solid Energy on the chopping block.
If those unit trains go, will dairy products, logs and the renowned TranzAlpine passenger train be enough to keep this line open?
3 June 2016, Ruru, train 803, DXC 5229+5425
The Ruru or Morepork is New Zealand’s most widespread owl species. A bird of the bush and the night, it is also an important species in Maori mythology.
The Morepork is the only remaining native owl species found in New Zealand apart from the Barn Owl, which has only very recently colonised New Zealand from Australia. It is also the only species of owl in New Zealand that inhabits forests. Top predators are required in order for ecological systems to function, keeping check on the organisms they feed on. With short rounded wings and ears and eyes adapted for low light and darkness they are a formidable and stealthy predator in the forests.
Scientists call it the Ninox novaeseelandiae. Maori have many names for the Morepork including Ruru, Koukou and Peho. Others (mainly Australians) know the Morepork as the Boobook.
It is said that the glaring, fiery eyes of the Morepork inspired the rolling ‘pukana’ eyes seen in many haka and waiata. Most famously, the pukana is employed during the ceremonial ‘Ka Mate’ haka by the All Blacks before a rugby game. There is no doubt that these glaring eyeballs play a significant part in the intensity of this powerful haka. - from wingspan.co.nz
This particular individual was seen at the Hawk Conservancy, outside Andover in Hampshire.
If he hadn't been pointed out to me I would have walked right past him! He was small and a couple of metres from the track, only a little above eye level. Just mind blowing and an incredible privilege to be so close for a few moments.
Next to the Little Owl enclosure at the small New Plymouth Zoo were a pair of Morepork owls (who were somewhat challenging to photograph because the mesh on their enclosure was very, very small...!).
The Morepork is a small, dark, forest-dwelling owl. It's found in both native and plantation forests, and its distinctive “more-pork” call is commonly heard at night in many urban parks and well-vegetated suburbs.
Moreporks are relatively common throughout much of New Zealand (though they are sparse through the eastern and central South Island - which happens to be where Little Owls live).
Their call is very distinctive and is how they got their name because it sounds like they're calling for more pork...! If you have time have a listen to this short video clip:
www.google.com/search?q=song+of+the+morepork&rlz=1C1C...
Further information can be found at nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/morepork
Thanks so much for the very kind and encouraging comments beneath this photo...! Your support is very greatly appreciated.
New Zealand's native Little Owl, the Ruru Nohinohi.
This one is recuperating at a volunteer's facility in Invercargill.
[Explore No# 39 (24/03/2013)]
New Zealand's only endemic owl. Maori especially admired ruru's giant plate-like eyes. They thought of ruru as watchful guardians. If you look closely at a lot of Maori carvings they have large ruru-like eyes.
A lucky capture as it was dusk & inside some very dark bush. He spotted us so I had to creep carefully towards him, he flew just after this shot. I've wanted to capture a morepork without using flash for awhile. The settings will tell you how dark it was, handheld too;
1/40
f/5.6
300mm
ISO 2000
So Archinto and Grayson both were curious how my accidental Peach Ruru compared to LEGO Yellow and Keetorange, so decided to do a comparison since I had my camera set up taking other photos.
I'd say it's closer to keetorange than regular yellow, but is still a color all it's own.
Also forgot I owned a second Orange Ruru so that's there to show how much the color has changed.
Unfortunately don't think it would do well for a Sand Tarakava Archinto.