12.01.2008

Birds of New Zealand & Japan


I searched about birds. New Zealand has a lot of original birds and most of them are becoming extinct. The national bird of NZ is kiwi and that of Japan is pheasant (kiji).
Kiwi is the name of the bird and the fruit. The fruit was named after the bird and that was named by Māori because they heard the bird’s cry like “kiwi”. Kiwi is the species of flightless birds, but this can run fast. The size of kiwi is about chicken. The kiwi lays the largest egg in comparison to its body size.

Kiji is the species of flight, but this is not good at flying, but this also can run fast. The size is about 80cm(♂). Kiji lives all over Japan except Tsushima. Both of them are drawn on the coin and the bill.

Next is about the original birds of NZ. Most of their names are in Māori, for example, Kea, Tui, Takahe and Kakapo and they live in forest. Moa is also one of the original birds. The height was about 3.6 m with neck outstretched, and weight was about 250 kg. This species has already extinct. I was so surprised by this bird having been.
New Zealanders are proud of kiwi and love that. So they call themselves "Kiwis". But I don't think many Japanese know the national bird of Japan is pheasant.
If you want to see kiwi, you should go Tennoji Zoo in Osaka. You can watch kiwi only there in Japan.
Let's go to TENNOJI ZOO:-)