My tour began in Aukland. I arrived a day early and made a trip to the island of Tiri Tiri. This island is near Aukland harbor and is reached by a ferry. The significant thing about this island is that it is free of introduced, feral predators that have nearly decimated the native birds on the main islands. At Tiri Tiri there is a program to re-introduce and build populations of native birds. These introductions include the North Island race of Saddlebacks, Whitehead, Stitchbird (a small honeyeater), the large and rare Kokako, and the flightless Swamphen, the Takahe. The Island has lovely trails and a visitor center

The tour visited Wenderholm park in the Whangaparaoa area north of Aukland, and we returned as a group to Tiri Tiri. Then we visited Miranda to look for shorebirds including the bizarre Wrybill whose bill turns to the right..