New Zealand falcon
The New Zealand falcon or kārearea (Falco novaeseelandiae) is New Zealand's only endemic falcon and the only remaining bird of prey endemic to New Zealand. Other common names for the bird are bush hawk and sparrow hawk. It is frequently mistaken for the larger and more common swamp harrier.
Description
A member of the Falconidae bird family, the New Zealand falcon is mainly found in heavy bush and the steep high country in the South Island and is rarely seen north of a line through the central area of the North Island. A small population also breeds on the Auckland Islands; the species is known from the Chatham Islands from fossil remains. Although protected since 1970, it is considered to be a threatened species.
Ornithologists variously described the New Zealand falcon as an aberrant hobby or as allied to three South American species (F. deiroleucus, F. rufigularis and F. femoralis); however studies of feather proteins suggest a close tie with the Australian brown falcon.
Podcasts:
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by Momus
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by Frogs
Kokoro Hirai
by: MomusKokoro Hirai cannot write today
She's in hospital, reason is too much chocolate
We are her relatives Taeko and Kazuko
We're writing to see if you can make her stop it
Kokoro Hirai keeps chocolates in her room
Chocolates in her bag, chocolates in her pocket
She eats them every time, everywhere
Five to six packages a day
She also loves toys
She also loves teas
Her motto is 'Nonbiri bonyari'
(It mean 'easy and idly')
But mostly Kokoro Hirai loves chocolates
That's why she lies in hospital today
Her behaviour is making us uneasy
Sometimes she makes us feel bad
She seems to be happy eating her chocolates
But we think they're driving her mad
If we shop with her in a convenience store
We will witness a surprise scene, maybe
She will buy a shop basket full up with chocolate
Milk, bitter, white or strawberry
She don't mind the colour
She don't care the price
If it's chocolate, to her must be nice
Especially in winter there are many kinds of chocolate
in store
So winter for her is a paradise
She also loves toys
She also loves teas
Her motto: 'Nonbiri bonyari'
(It mean 'easy and idly')
But mostly Kokoro Hirai loves chocolates
Which is why she lies in hospital today
Her behaviour is making us uneasy
Sometimes she makes us feel bad
We have issued her a warning about too much chocolate
once
But she never paid attention to our words
She also loves toys
She also loves teas
Her motto: 'Nonbiri bonyari'
('Live easy and idly')
But mostly Kokoro Hirai loves chocolates