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Lost Beauty - The Huia


Lost Beauty - The Huia
Photo Information
Copyright: Martyn Peck (Travelcam) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 846 W: 76 N: 1208] (10171)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08
Categories: Nature, Event, Decisive Moment, Mood, HPP [Heavily Post-Processed]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-09-07 0:32
Viewed: 485
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Could this be a living huia? A New Zealand bird that became extinct?

It was well documented in the 19th century that the huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) moved around in pairs, working as a team rumaging through old rotting vegetation in search of bugs. One interesting observation made about these birds was the significant difference in beak size and shape between the sexes. The female's curved bill could grow to up to 104 mm, one-third longer than the male's shorter straight beak which grew to about 60 mm.

Given this documented description of the beaks, the specimen in my TL posting would appear to be a female. The distinctive bright orange wattle was a characteristic of both sexes.

The demise of this attractive New Zealand bird came about due to a variety of reasons and circumstances, no one reason can or should be attributed to its extinction. The feathers were highly valued by Maori and Europeans; the former for reasons of traditional significance, the latter apparently only for vanity. Many of these birds were killed, stuffed and sent overseas, destined for various museums and stately homes.

With the introduction of European settlers to New Zealand, predators such as rats, stoats, dogs and cats were also introduced. The effect of this on the native birdlife was devastating. In addition, deforestation began which effectively gave such species fewer safe havens. The population took several hits throughout the decades for various reasons, each time pushing the species towards extinction.

In the late 19th century noble attempts were made to establish safe and secure breeding establishments on some islands, unfortunately all such attempts failed.

The last reliable sighting of a live huia was in 1907. There had been accounts of sightings of the huia up to 1920.

So, returning to my question..."Could this be a living Huia?"

Regretably... NO.

But my PP work done here on merging a cropped photo I took of a female Huia specimen in a museum with that of a typical bush setting may, perhaps, give you a sense of how beautiful this bird would have appeared in the bush before they officially became extinct.

Hopefully lessons have been learned and we will never again lose one of our own...

TFR.
eosnut, Hendrika, LuDivine has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • eosnut Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 588 W: 164 N: 1399] (10095)
  • [2007-09-07 0:38]

Well done on your PP work Martyn. Good note too, a lot of people most probably have never heard of the Huia.
Again, very well done,
Pete.

I defnitely never heard of Huia before!! And if i would have not read your note through I would have thought you found one!!! Excellent PP work, and supra interesting note!
Cheers Martyn!!
LuDivine

Hey,this is really cool Martyn.
My eyes just about popped out of my head when I saw it,but I guessed it must have been a PP job.You've done it really well.
I used to have a few Huia bones,along with Takahe,Moa and Saddleback.When I was guiding at the Glow Worm Caves many years ago I did a lot of caving around Waitomo and went on a few digs with friends of mine.Most of what I had ended up in various museums.
If you like New Zealand nature you'd probably enjoy TrekNature too.I've been posting there for about 3 years (as LordPotty of course).
How do you find the FZ30?
I've just bought the FZ8 (My 3rd Lumix)
I reckon they're the best.

Hi Martyn,
It really works - lovely setting for this once beautiful bird.
However, I don't know how it looks on your screen, but on mine it is way too dark. So I made you a WS explaining what I did.
TFS
Els

WOW well you fooled me Marty, I thought it was a real live bird, excellent PP work, you'll have to show me ya tips and tricks to getting a great result, well done, interesting reading too :-)

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