Behind the Scenes - Nature at Te Papa

Usually I'm out and about exploring nature - outside. But recently Wellington's 150th Capital Anniversary provided a special opportunity to explore nature indoors. An open day at the museum - Te Papa Tongarewa - was a unique chance to see some of the treasures stored there.

The day started with a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Botany collection. Te Papa's curators had carefully selected some treasures to show us, from plants collected by Solander on Cook's 1st voyage 1768-1771

Solander's collection orchid and tree fern

to the now extinct Cook's scurvy plant

Dotterel as Bird of the Year

I'm leaning towards voting for the New Zealand Dotterel as bird of the year. These cute birds love this sort of habitat. Pretty hard to spot them among the seaweed and driftwood, until they start to move. Then it's almost like their on wheels, they zoom along, stopping and starting. They hold still long enough for me to focus the camera, then they speed off just as I take the shot! 

 There's something wrong with this picture, and it's not just that it's a poor shot!