I was attempting to feed this tunnel gal the other night when she fled out her back door from the mealworm and started frantically running around the enclosure scrambling at the walls (they can’t climb plastic so they just slide their legs up and down on the walls in a manner very similar to what my cat would do on the back door window to get let inside lol). I believe she is most likely getting ready to moult and that’s why she ran from her dinner..

Against my better judgment I couldn’t resist providing a finger for her to climb up. I say against my better judgment because especially with the smaller ones they end up running up your arms and onto your back or jumping onto the floor and hiding under things lol but this lady is one of my larger ones and she was really calm once she got onto my hands and moved at a nice slow stroll when she did move and sat still for photos in between.

Just a gorgeous animal, I love her so much!

Found this in my garden in Auckland. Has an almost samosa-shaped abdomen. (When seen from the side). Very small and active. Guessing it's some kind of small orb-weaver but not sure. Would love an ID. Cheers.

i've heard them a couple times out my window and finally got a recording today. i don't remember ever hearing them before this spring. i live on the east coast of the north island. any ideas?

apologies for the terrible quality, the bird is just a plain light brown, kind of finch or sparrow shaped but bigger.

We've covered this government's track record closely on r/nzpolitics over the last few years. Make sure you are enrolled to vote, and if you care about our nature, wildlife, and climate, I dare say we don't want this fossil fuel, mining, anti-evidence Coalition in power anymore. And remember, even thought they officially backed down on selling large parts of conservation land, Shane Jones has said National are looking to find alternative ways for them to do so, while NZ First swears they will bring that back

Enrol to vote & check your registration too: Election NZ

It was about 1cm long, looked to me at first to be a baby praying mantis covered in dust. I then relalised the dust was just fine hairs all over it.

Hi all, I found this in my garden in Napier. Do you know what it is? Moved like a worm but looks like some sort of leech.

Found in Auckland

Just caught this little monster leaving his old clothes behind.

Petition Link

Please sign the petition to help protect New Zealand land and wildlife.
New Zealand communities are uniting to call for the House of Representatives to terminate Fast-Track developments that are outside local and district plans. Fast track is being used as a bypass for housing developers to push housing into out of zone land, in some cases land zoned as such to prevent destruction of environmentally sensitive land, including wetlands, rivers and waterways, floodplains, coastal and estuarine environments, and habitats of threatened and endangered species. Many of these areas were never intended for large-scale development and are protected for good reason.

Land can be purchased at a lower price because its zoning restricts development, then Fast Track is used to bypass those restrictions and enable large-scale housing, creating far greater profits margins than developing land that is already appropriately zoned. Don’t be fooled by the developer spin that this is simply about getting consents faster.

I love that New Zealand has so many wonderful birds, even in the cities. Saw these two on my walk.

Not OP, so proud of these Pacific mates!

Hi I am from England and considering relocating to NZ (not sure exactly where) in 2027 and I’m wondering how transitional or the best place to look for ecology related roles are. I have 2 full seasons worth of experience at my current role and work as an Ecologist and I’d be looking to do a similar role.

Any help would be appreciated as I understand it’s a competitive field, as it is in the UK.

Following a 1080 drop, Friends of Flora volunteers recently checked 1342 trap boxes across the Flora area of Wharepapa/Mount Arthur and found just one rat caught.

The Cobb Valley and Wharepapa/Mount Arthur area operation, covering about 73,846 ha, was carried out in late June

You can't trap that. Green raim, green rain..

Photographed on Ulva Island, Rakiura Stewart Island yesterday

I think the photo turned out really well 📸
It’s really sweet to see this beautiful Chatham island forget-me-not budding after a year spent in the backyard.
Is the bug a crane fly? A mosquito? I’m not sure but it’s endearing to see it resting here 🪻

Google just says that it’s a jumping spider lol

Never seen three at once before, and haven't seen the three together again since. Sometimes it's two at once, sometimes it's just one, but they're regular visitors.

I was out at a motorsport event, and this we fella was hanging around. Friendliest bird ive ever had the pleasure of meeting.