Queen's Birthday

On the Queen's official birthday they have a bank holiday here in New Zealand and everyone gets out for some serious rest & relaxation! We took ourselves off to Auckland Museum, set in acres of landscape designed by the "Acclimatisation Society" in the late 19th century. They were dedicated to introducing plant and animal species to the islands to help the Settlers feed and improve themselves, and to help them 'feel at home' - hence I think we've seen more Sparrows here than back at home. Many of these introduced species thrived and became part of the mainstream - sheep, goats, deer. Believe it or not there were NO native mammals here on the islands except two species of bat. But other introductions have had a devastating effect on native wildlife & fauna (rabbit, possum, stoat, hedgehog). Here endeth the nature lesson for the day :0)