Running Wild Walks I have spent a lot of time in the East Matukituki for the last 15 years and I like to think that I have a pretty good handle on the animals that live there. But this one has me stumped. We found this half of an egg shell in the sand at Ruth Flat. The discolorization is just sand stuck to the shell which is an even color. But as you can see it is BIG. Easily the size of four chicken eggs. What kind of bird can squeeze one of these out! If there are any Ornithologists out there let me know. Do I
need to start carrying a weapon to protect myself?
I'd say it's a goose egg, but it would be a Lot cooler if it were a Moa.!
ReplyDeleteMystery solved?... from one of our clients...
ReplyDelete"Hi there Moa extinction denialists,
Well, as (the only?) one of your admiring professional ornithologist clients, … Canada Goose, I’d reckon.
According to my trusty ornithological textbook, their egg can be as large as just over 10 cm x 6 cm!
And they’ll (apparently) sometimes nest on river braids, hence loc. found, although it could have washed from afar.
Seen a good number over your way (introduced NZ), but never personally found a nest.
(Do I get a prize, or have I been beaten to it?)
Marcus"