Listen: Humans and birds

12 October 2026 First published RNZ

The author of a new book on New Zealand's birds believes there are few countries as connected with its bird life as this one.

Robert Vennell is a curator in the Natural Science department at Auckland Museum and in Songs of the Birds he explores how birds have been used as food, medicine, tools, and looked upon for comfort, to predict the future and understand weather patterns.

Aotearoa is dominated by bird life;  birds occupy all the major animal niches that are held by mammals in other countries, and in most places here are ever present.

He spoke with RNZ's Kathryn Ryan on Nine to Noon.