The Kereru; Gardener of the Skies

The native New Zealand Wood Pidgeon, endemic to Aotearoa and regarded as the "Gardener of the Skies"... Without them, our large native trees such as #Tawa, #Taraire, #Matai and #Puriri (seen in painting) would struggle to survive, as the Kererū play a crucial role being the only native bird big enough to carry seeds from the fruit of these larger trees, dropping them in new pastures for the #ngahere (forest) to continue to regenerate.

Nationally, around 20,000 Kereru have been observed in Aotearoa, but due to predators (possums, rats and stoats) and continued habitat loss by native deforestation, these numbers may begin to dwindle over the next few years.

This painting is the first of a series to educate and create awareness about our native birds and bushes of Aotearoa, drawing from conservation work and the #ketetuauri of indigenous Maori wisdom.


#rongoamaori #indigenousAF #kereru #puriritree #gparker #tereomaori #ednotmed #conservation #DOC #aotearoa #nativebirdsnz #newzealand #birdappreciationsociety #birdsandbushes #organicmechanic