Story: Wading birds

Transferring snipe

Transferring snipe

Jonnice Pennicott, a young muttonbirder, is releasing a snipe on rat-free Putauhinu Island, near Stewart Island. The snipe is from the Snares, now the closest islands with a population of New Zealand snipe. The 30 snipe released in 2005 produced over 300 offspring by 2011. The eerie noise snipe create by vibrating their tails during nocturnal courtship flights earned them the status of spirit bird among Māori muttonbirders.

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Department of Conservation
Photograph by Ros Cole

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Wading birds - Snipe', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/9182/transferring-snipe (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015