{"title":"Avril Jean - Watercolour Bird Studies and New Zealand Landscapes","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e All watercolour paintings are framed ready to hang.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Ruru nohinohi (Little Owl)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour bird study by \u003ca title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\" href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Ruru Nohinohi:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe little owl is a small grey-brown-and-white streaked owl that is widespread throughout the drier open country of the eastern and northern South Island. Unlike the morepork, they are often seen perched out in the open during the day. Little owls were introduced to New Zealand from Germany between 1906 and 1910, with the intention that they would help control the numbers of small introduced birds, which were becoming a pest in grain and fruit crops. With the exception of one pair released in Rotorua, all were liberated in the South Island. Little owls bob up and down if startled and have an undulating flight pattern.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42466428354782,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/DD12457B-44F6-4D19-87F9-C7406DFEC84D.jpg?v=1649282696"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-8","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Boats at Milford Sound","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOriginal watercolour New Zealand landscape painting by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMounted and framed in a NZ made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548899086558,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/22F46593-1835-4F3D-BE51-DE81F679B20F.jpg?v=1648781895"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-10","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Tarapunga (Silver Gull)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eOriginal watercolour bird study by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Tarapunga:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe red-billed gull is the most common gull on the New Zealand coast. Except for a colony at Lake Rotorua, it rarely is found inland. It is commonly seen in coastal towns, garbage dumps and at fish processing facilities. Immature adults are often confused with the closely related black-billed gull.  The birds tend to nest at the same locality from one season to the next, and offspring mostly return to their natal colony to breed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548901216478,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/F6928AFB-DF33-4736-AE19-62E661C557E5.jpg?v=1649837116"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-14","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Kereru (Woodpigeon)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour bird study by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Kereru:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis large and distinctively-coloured pigeon is a familiar sight to many New Zealanders. This is because the New Zealand pigeon (or kereru) has a widespread distribution through the country, being present in extensive tracts of native forest, and rural and urban habitats, including most cities. As well as allowing close approach, it often roosts conspicuously, such as on powerlines or on the tops of trees. The distinctive sound of its wing beats in flight also draws attention.  Like many forest birds its abundance is severely compromised by introduced mammals, particularly possums, stoats and ship rats. Only where these pests are not present (predator-free islands) or are controlled to low levels do kereru populations thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548903084254,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/1BC7C7C9-A566-4339-8806-E3CDA1892A52.jpg?v=1648782016"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-16","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Kokako","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour painting by artist \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInformation about the North Island Kokako:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eWith their extraordinary haunting song, and obscure evolutionary relationships to other birds, kokako evoke the forests of ancient New Zealand perhaps more than any other species. More likely to be heard than seen, North Island kokako have persisted in small populations particularly in the central North Island. They typically inhabit tall native forest, singing from tree-tops but often feeding in understorey layers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll mainland North Island populations persist only with sustained control of key pest mammals (ship rats and brushtail possums). All unmanaged populations are extinct.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the South Island Kokako\u003c\/strong\u003e - (credit - information from Star News 1 February 2024)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe South Island kōkako - believed to be extinct for decades - may have finally been seen in Southland.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe songbird was listed as extinct until 2013, when the Department of Conservation reclassified its status as data deficient.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We definitely have faith and we definitely do not believe it's extinct in the South Island.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most recent report of a possible South Island kōkako was on private land between two areas of conservation land about 13km west of Tuatapere. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A hunter has seen and heard a bird we can only assume is the South Island kōkako, so we've got in touch with the landowners there who have a sustainable forestry operation.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 10 years ago there was a report of two large grey birds being sighted in an area a few kilometres to the west of the most recent report.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow, the trust has asked people to go to the site of the most recent suspected sighting - with the permission of the landowners and a permit - to follow up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"It is big news, you know the description of it was really encouraging, the sighting of a grey bird, the way it glided across the clearing, the sound that it made, a sort of chime.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"media media-element-container media-default\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"file-600631\" class=\"file file-image file-image-png\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"field-items\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"field-item even\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eSearching for decades\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerkins said she had been involved in searching for the bird for the last seven and a half years but the trust's expert Rhys Buckingham had been looking for more than 40.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery year at its annual general meeting the trust reviewed whether it was worth continuing to search for the bird.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"MagniteApex-wrapper-0.026586877067947046\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"And each year we think there is hope, some of the sightings have given us great hope, some of the follow-up searches we've been doing have given us hope and science is giving us hope - whether it's environmental DNA perhaps through Otago University, or bioacoustics and fancy algorithms and artificial intelligence from Victoria University.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExtinction was something people should be concerned about, she said.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"If we are involved in causing the extinction of a species, if it's a human-induced loss - which this would be if it has occurred or if it will occur - then we should be concerned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"There's a hall of shame pretty much at Zealandia in Wellington showing the species that have become extinct since humans arrived in New Zealand and it's a tragedy and we want to try and find this bird before it's too late so it can be conserved appropriately.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe kōkako has a part to play in the forest bird eco-system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe South Island bird looks similar to the North Island one but the South Island variety has orange wattles, while the one in the North Island has blue wattles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere may also be a slight difference in size between the varieties and a slight difference in their calls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere was still a $10,000 reward in place which was launched seven years ago for anyone who could confirm the existence of the South Island kōkako.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople who think they may have heard or seen a South Island kōkako are encouraged to use their phone to take a photo if possible, or to record the bird song.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"We've had over 400, 423 I think it was at the last count since we launched this campaign and about 20 percent of them we've rated as probable, about 18 percent we've been able to exclude on the basis of lots of details from the person reporting it whether it's a recording, or a photo or a really good description so we can confirm a different bird in those cases.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548904460510,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/C0E9ABEA-B257-4350-BD57-3B46D58F59D5.jpg?v=1648782109"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-20","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Kaka","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour bird study by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ watercolour artist Avril Jean profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wood frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Kaka: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eGenerally heard before they are seen, kaka are large, forest-dwelling parrots that are found on all three main islands of New Zealand and on several offshore islands. Much reduced in range and abundance in the North and South islands due to forest clearance and predation by introduced mammals, kaka are most abundant on offshore islands that have no introduced mammals, or at least no stoats. They remain locally common at some sites on the main islands that are close to offshore island refuges, and have increased in abundance at others where mammalian pests have been controlled. Kaka can be found in a wide variety of native forest types including podocarp and beech forest. They are a common sight in Wellington city, having spread from Zealandia \/ Karori Sanctuary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kakawatchnz.org\/Home.html\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548911341790,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/DD80BAC7-CEB0-421B-A8AC-4A636E7A091E.jpg?v=1648613485"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-21","title":"Watercolour Bird Study by Avril Jean - Kakapo","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour painting by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Kakapo:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe kakapo is a large, nocturnal, flightless, lek-breeding parrot – a real oddity. It is also critically endangered, and the focus of considerable conservation attention. Before humans arrived it was common throughout New Zealand’s forests, but predation by introduced mammals brought it to the brink of extinction - a low point of about 50 birds only in the mid 1990s. The transfer of the whole population to predator-free islands and intensive intervention in every stage of its life has led to a steady increase in numbers. Kakapo have no close relatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548911997150,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/58D3444B-FF99-4852-80B9-53CCC71699BD.jpg?v=1648613444"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-22","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Kakapo","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour painting by artist \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Kakapo:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe kakapo is a large, nocturnal, flightless, lek-breeding parrot – a real oddity. It is also critically endangered, and the focus of considerable conservation attention. Before humans arrived it was common throughout New Zealand’s forests, but predation by introduced mammals brought it to the brink of extinction - a low point of about 50 birds only in the mid 1990s. The transfer of the whole population to predator-free islands and intensive intervention in every stage of its life has led to a steady increase in numbers. Kakapo have no close relatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548912750814,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/4CDCE2DA-0F4B-41FE-9B81-0DDF9B00DF4E.jpg?v=1648613392"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-23","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Kiwi","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour bird study by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the North Island Brown Kiwi:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe only kiwi in the wild in the North Island. Widespread in native forest and scrub, pine forests, and rough farmland.  Flightless, with tiny vestigial wings and no tail. Nocturnal, therefore more often heard than seen. Male gives a repeated high-pitched ascending whistle, and the female gives a deeper throaty cry.  Dark brown, streaked lengthways with reddish brown and black.  Long pale bill, short dark legs and toes, often with dark claws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548913045726,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/30679665-EAD8-441F-BF0A-59A0E8E22524.jpg?v=1648613353"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-25","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Toroa (Royal Albatross)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour painting by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Toroa:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe northern royal albatross is a huge white albatross with black upperwings. It usually mates for life and breeds only in New Zealand. Biennial breeding takes place primarily on The Sisters and The Forty-Fours Islands in the Chatham Islands. There is also a tiny colony at Taiaroa Head near Dunedin on the mainland of New Zealand.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNorthern royal albatross can be sighted throughout the Southern Ocean at any time of the year. Non-breeding and immature birds, including newly fledged birds, undertake a downwind circumnavigation in the Southern Ocean. The main wintering grounds are off the coasts of southern South America. They are generally solitary foragers and forage predominantly over continental shelves to shelf edges.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548914389214,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/605A014A-796B-4073-BD5F-BDB435F35D39.jpg?v=1648613235"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-26","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Kotuku (White Heron)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour bird study by \u003ca title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\" href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Kotuku:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe white heron or kotuku is well-loved by the New Zealand people, but it is rarely seen except by those who specifically seek it out. Its sole New Zealand breeding site near Okarito Lagoon in Westland is well-known and well-protected, but elsewhere it is 'He kotuku rerenga tahi' or the bird of single flight, implying something seen perhaps once in a lifetime. When seen in close proximity it is a magnificent bird, with its large size and clean white plumage.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548914946270,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/2858711D-8C74-4208-8DC0-2B980A428AC0.jpg?v=1648613156"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-27","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Weka","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour painting by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Weka:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe weka is one of New Zealand’s iconic large flightless birds. Likely derived from a flighted ancestor, weka are 3-6 times larger than banded rails, which are considered their nearest flying relatives. Weka are charismatic birds that are often attracted to human activity. This makes an encounter with a weka a wildlife highlight for many people, as the curious bird searches for any food item that the intruder might bring. But people who live alongside weka often have a less charitable opinion, as they have to live with ever-watchful weka snatching opportunities to raid vegetable gardens, pilfer poultry food and eggs, and even steal dog food from the bowl. Unfortunately weka are not as robust as they appear, and have become extinct over large tracts of the mainland. Causes of extinction are complex, and are likely to be due to interactions between climatic conditions (especially drought) and predator numbers (especially ferrets, stoats and dogs). Fortunately, weka still thrive at many accessible sites, including on Kawau, Mokoia, Kapiti, Ulva and Chatham Islands, the Marlborough Sounds, North Westland, and parts of the Abel Tasman, Heaphy and Milford Tracks.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548917764318,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/47FD521D-79F7-4A56-B6A7-57EB288D2E43.jpg?v=1648612901"},{"product_id":"original-watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-28","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - Takapu (Gannet)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour bird study by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAbout the Takapu:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its 1.8 m wing-span, the Australasian gannet is a conspicuous, predominantly white seabird that is common in New Zealand coastal waters. They can be observed feeding solitarily or in large congregations, especially near the larger colonies. Australasian gannets breed in dense colonies on coastal islands and on cliffs and beaches of some headlands of the New Zealand mainland. \u003cb\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42548918649054,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/12C43A9C-071F-471B-8DED-4CE90B625A45.jpg?v=1648612992"},{"product_id":"watercolour-painting-by-avril-jean-south-island-kokako","title":"Watercolour Painting by Avril Jean - South Island Kokako","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal watercolour bird study by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/pages\/avril-jean-dolman\" title=\"NZ Watercolour Artist Avril Jean Dolman profile\"\u003eAvril Jean\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMounted and framed in a New Zealand made wooden frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrame size 40 x 39 cm \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount outer size: 32.5 x 31.5 cm\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMount window size 18.5 x 16.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the South Island Kokako:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eSouth Island kokako were slightly smaller and darker than the North Island kokako, with orange rather than blue facial wattles. In the early 1800s, they occupied beech forests and low scrub above the tree line on both sides of Southern Alps from north-west Nelson south to Fiordland, and mixed podocarp forest on Stewart Island, plus some forested areas of Otago and Southland. They declined markedly after introductions of cats, ship rats and stoats, and were very rare by the late 1800s. The range of the South Island kokako shrank to Fiordland and Stewart Island, with the last accepted twentieth century sighting at Mt Aspiring National Park in 1967. Declared extinct by the Department of Conservation in 2008, the species' conservation status was moved from extinct to data deficient in 2013, leading to acceptance of a sighting from near Reefton on the West Coast of the South Island in 2007.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSouth Island Kokako\u003c\/strong\u003e  update - (credit - information from Star News 1 February 2024)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe South Island kōkako - believed to be extinct for decades - may have finally been seen in Southland.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe songbird was listed as extinct until 2013, when the Department of Conservation reclassified its status as data deficient.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We definitely have faith and we definitely do not believe it's extinct in the South Island.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most recent report of a possible South Island kōkako was on private land between two areas of conservation land about 13km west of Tuatapere. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A hunter has seen and heard a bird we can only assume is the South Island kōkako, so we've got in touch with the landowners there who have a sustainable forestry operation.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 10 years ago there was a report of two large grey birds being sighted in an area a few kilometres to the west of the most recent report.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow, the trust has asked people to go to the site of the most recent suspected sighting - with the permission of the landowners and a permit - to follow up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"It is big news, you know the description of it was really encouraging, the sighting of a grey bird, the way it glided across the clearing, the sound that it made, a sort of chime.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"media media-element-container media-default\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"file-600631\" class=\"file file-image file-image-png\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"field-items\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"field-item even\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eSearching for decades\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerkins said she had been involved in searching for the bird for the last seven and a half years but the trust's expert Rhys Buckingham had been looking for more than 40.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery year at its annual general meeting the trust reviewed whether it was worth continuing to search for the bird.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"MagniteApex-wrapper-0.026586877067947046\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"And each year we think there is hope, some of the sightings have given us great hope, some of the follow-up searches we've been doing have given us hope and science is giving us hope - whether it's environmental DNA perhaps through Otago University, or bioacoustics and fancy algorithms and artificial intelligence from Victoria University.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExtinction was something people should be concerned about, she said.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"If we are involved in causing the extinction of a species, if it's a human-induced loss - which this would be if it has occurred or if it will occur - then we should be concerned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"There's a hall of shame pretty much at Zealandia in Wellington showing the species that have become extinct since humans arrived in New Zealand and it's a tragedy and we want to try and find this bird before it's too late so it can be conserved appropriately.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe kōkako has a part to play in the forest bird eco-system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe South Island bird looks similar to the North Island one but the South Island variety has orange wattles, while the one in the North Island has blue wattles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere may also be a slight difference in size between the varieties and a slight difference in their calls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere was still a $10,000 reward in place which was launched seven years ago for anyone who could confirm the existence of the South Island kōkako.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople who think they may have heard or seen a South Island kōkako are encouraged to use their phone to take a photo if possible, or to record the bird song.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"We've had over 400, 423 I think it was at the last count since we launched this campaign and about 20 percent of them we've rated as probable, about 18 percent we've been able to exclude on the basis of lots of details from the person reporting it whether it's a recording, or a photo or a really good description so we can confirm a different bird in those cases.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"silverferngallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42626104230110,"sku":"AJ","price":395.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/products\/0D7717CB-25AC-4023-8A3A-EF6A9D69BA48.jpg?v=1648782218"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/0486\/9854\/collections\/046AC2E4-B76F-4E82-A05E-B8D6BBB8026F_1_201_a.jpg?v=1716629543","url":"https:\/\/www.silverferngallery.co.nz\/collections\/avril-jean\/avril-jean.oembed","provider":"silverferngallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}