Wild stowaway takes secret 280km trip in camper's ute: 'Couldn't stop laughing'
Weekend campers were shocked to discover an odd-looking flightless bird had secretly hitched a ride in their ute and travelled into a bustling city. The weka is believed to have begun its journey in the Buller Gorge on New Zealand's South Island and travelled 280km north to Christchurch.
Although the birds are known for their loud 'coo-et' call each night, the stowaway was completely quiet during the trip. And the couple remained unaware of its presence until they opened the door and saw him sitting calmly in the footwell of their Ford Ranger.
'When I got home, I opened the back door of the Ranger to get something, there it was in the rear passenger footwell,' camper Kim Ranger said. 'I couldn't stop laughing and then I came to the realisation, what on earth do you do with a weka in Christchurch?'
Related: 18 of world's rarest birds released to create new wild population
The west coast species are the most common species of weka, and while it is not listed as endangered, its numbers have declined since human settlement. Moving them to new parts of the country can upset fragile ecosystems, upsetting lizards, seabirds and other species of ground-based birds.
Unsure how to immediately respond to the weka, Kim locked it in her car with food and water, then called the Department of Conservation (DOC) for help. What happened next will take a long time to properly fix.
'The weka didn't show any signs of being distressed, when you opened the door he just stood on the centre console and pooped — though he did set off the car alarm at 7 in the morning. The inside of the ute was literally covered in weka poop.'
Record-breaking change for 'near invisible' bird
New Aussie invention set to halt spread of invasive predators
Photo reveals 'surprising' change at popular holiday lake
Pictures released by New Zealand's Department of Conservation on Monday show how bad the mess was. White bird poo can be seen strewn across the seats, dashboard and floor mats.
The weka's ordeal began on the Easter weekend. Since then, he's been assessed by a vet and returned home. DOC says the ordeal should serve as a reminder to campers entering a wilderness to check their vehicles for stowaways.
'There are no wild weka in Christchurch so we wouldn't want to see them accidentally introduced here. It's a good reminder for people to be mindful about unintentionally transporting animals in their equipment,' its biodiversity supervisor Craig Alexander said.
Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Secret boarding pass code 'no airline traveller wants to see'
Stringent immigration checks and cases of travellers being turned away at the border have left many Aussies second-guessing their need to travel to the United States in recent months. And one traveller heading to America was recently left with a sinking feeling when she received her boarding pass at Brisbane Airport with the code SSSS printed on it. The code, which stands for "secondary security screening selection", is the "four letters no traveller wants to see on their boarding pass" when travelling to the United States, according to United passenger Ruby. Sharing her experience, Ruby said the code is known as "every traveller's worst nightmare" to those who regularly visit the US because those who receive it are subjected to additional security screening before they are allowed to board. "I've travelled to over 30 countries so am aware of the stigma around it," she told Yahoo News. Ruby told Yahoo that upon checking into their flight at Brisbane airport ahead of a three-week holiday, her fiancé – who is a US citizen – had "no problem", but she was told she required additional checks. "When I got to the bag drop and my boarding pass was printed, I got the dreaded four S's," she explained. "They didn't check my paperwork or say anything, which was surprising." It wasn't until she arrived at the gate and was ready to board that she was "pulled aside" to a table for the additional screening. "After you've scanned your boarding pass, they said 'go over there' and they had me hand over my passport, which they reviewed. I put all of my stuff out on the table and they swabbed everything, including my bag, laptop, hands and stomach. I've never had that before," she explained. Ruby said that travellers can be flagged for "all sorts of reasons" with some saying it's "random". "It's kind of a lottery for seasoned travellers," she said. Luckily, Ruby was allowed to proceed with her journey but it wasn't the end of her security woes. At immigration in San Francisco, she said, "they were really grilling me". "You never know with the US," she warned. Despite that, she still urged Aussies to enjoy the country, adding that "it's still safe" and "if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be worried". "Go have fun, but be careful and stay safe," she said. 😳 Tourist 'traumatised' after being strip-searched at Sydney Airport 🛫 Warning as simple $50 mistake leaves Aussie tourist stuck at airport 🌻 Travelling mum highlights little-known feature at airports Prominent immigration lawyer Melissa Vincenty told Yahoo News she has been subject to the screening herself and has even seen children get flagged. "As soon as you see it you think 'oh man'," she laughed. But added the additional security checks are common and nothing to worry about. "This has been around since the 9/11 legislation when they made the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under the Department of Homeland Security," she explained of the change made in 2003. While neither the TSA nor airlines publish the criteria used when boarding passes are issued, Vincenty believes that the selection process is random. "They are required by law to randomly select passengers," she explained of the security screening. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
8 Places To See Sunflowers Bloom In The South This Summer
Sweltering heat aside, there is plenty to love about summertime in the South. The season is prime time for ice cream runs, lazy beach days, and wandering through fields of sunflowers in full, golden bloom. These towering flowers hit their peak during the hottest months, transforming farms, backroads, and tucked-away pastures into bright, cheerful memories. Spring gets most of the credit for its dogwoods and azaleas, and fall claims the foliage, but summer quietly delivers one of the region's most beautiful displays. It's the kind of fleeting ritual that might just earn a spot on your annual calendar. Here are eight places across the South where you can see—and even take home—these sun-kissed flowers. Anderson, South Carolina This fourth-generation family farm turns peak bloom into a full-blown celebration. Its annual Sunflower Festival invites guests to roam through fields of golden blossoms—including rare varieties you won't often see—then stay for the live music, local food vendors, and more than 30 classic farm attractions, from a cow train to a giant jumping pillow. The experience is complete with photo ops around every corner and pick-your-own blooms included with admission. 1515 Denver Rd, Anderson, SC 29625; 864-556-3394 Explore Anderson Nokesville, Virginia Each summer, just 40 miles west of Washington, D.C., this family-owned farm trades its famous tulips for towering sunflowers in more than 30 vibrant varieties. The 70-acre fields stretch wide with blooms in every shade—bright yellow, deep orange, rusty red, and even buttery white. Guests can wander through three winding sunflower mazes, settle in for a picnic in the courtyard of a century-old dairy barn, or linger for golden-hour views during the farm's Sunflower Sunsets, held each evening from 4 p.m. to dusk. Pick-your-own stems are $1.50 apiece, with three included in every ticket. 11008 Kettle Run Rd, Nokesville, VA 20181; 703-930-3052 West, Texas You know summer has arrived when this family-owned farm, just a short 10-minute drive north of Waco, bursts into bloom with 5 acres of sunflowers and zinnias. The farm's annual Sunflower Festival runs from mid-May through early June, inviting visitors to wander the fields, craft their own floral arrangements, and enjoy live music alongside classic farm activities like barrel train rides and duck races. Even after the festival ends, the farm stays open on select days for flower picking well into June. 7929 Heritage Pkwy, West, TX 76691; 254-447-7422 Autaugaville, Alabama In the heart of central Alabama, Kim and Todd Sheridan plant roughly a million of what they call 'happy flowers' each year. This sought-after summer spectacle comes to life around early July, inviting visitors to explore the fields on foot or overlook the sea of blooms with a tractor-pulled wagon ride. Admission to the smile-making fields is free, with cut flowers available for $1 a stem or $12 a bucket. 3301 Hwy 14 West, Autaugaville, AL 36003 Picayune, Mississippi Guests who visit this ever-changing flower farm in southern Mississippi leave with some of the prettiest buckets in the state. During the spring and summer season, typically from May to June, the fields spill over with towering sunflowers, bright zinnias, and scattered bursts of cosmos and marigolds. For $18 per person (ages 12 and up), you bring your own bucket and clippers and craft your own colorful bounty. 27230 Rd 221, Picayune, MS 39466; 601-918-3770 Shreveport to Gilliam, Louisiana The next best thing to a yellow-brick road, this stretch of sunflowers along Highway 3049 North from Shreveport to Gilliam creates one of the most scenic drives in Louisiana. You'll pass everything from quaint local patches to expansive fields that stretch for miles alongside the road. Keep driving until you reach Gilliam, where the town hosts its annual Sunflower Festival. Enjoy everything from live music and food vendors to photo ops and vintage tractors. Explore Shreveport Flintsone, Maryland Surrounded by mountains and tucked along Pleasant Valley Road, the sunflower field at Rocky Gap State Park offers a quiet and uniquely beautiful kind of bliss. The blooms typically peak in late summer, when bright-yellow sunflowers mingle with bursts of purple, orange, and pink wildflowers. While picking isn't allowed, the scenery makes for some of the most striking photo ops in western Maryland. 12500 Pleasant Valley Road, Flintstone, MD 21530; 301-722-1480 Philadelphia, Tennessee You can easily spend several hours soaking in the magic of this mid-summer display in Loudon County. From late June through mid-July, visitors can stroll through fields of sunflowers and zinnias, take scenic tractor-pulled hayrides, and make their way through a winding sunflower maze. Admission starts at $8 for adults and $5 for children aged 4–9, with extras like u-pick flowers and souvenir French Market buckets available on-site. 13100 Lee Hwy, Philadelphia, TN 37846; 865-408-8527 Read the original article on Southern Living
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Wildfire warnings issued in the Canary Islands as millions prepare to holiday there
As millions of holidaymakers prepare to head to the Canary Islands this summer, authorities have issued a wildfire pre-alert across the archipelago. The warning, announced by the General Directorate of Emergencies on Sunday, applies to tourist hotspots El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. It comes as the islands enter a high-risk fire period following the wet season, as hot, dry winds known as the 'calima' begin blowing in from the Sahara Desert. The risk of wildfire is nothing new for the Canary Islands. The volcanic terrain, Mediterranean climate and fire-adapted vegetation - plants that have evolved to thrive in fire-prone environments - make them susceptible to summer blazes, and scientists say wildfires are part of the archipelago's ecological rhythm. Some of the worst occurred in 2023, when forest fires ravaged Tenerife, destroying more than 15,000 hectares of land and forcing 12,000 people to evacuate. The blaze was later found to have been started by arsonists. This year, officials are urging tourists and locals alike to take extreme caution, warning against launching fireworks near forests and discarding cigarettes on dry ground. Related You'll need to book via app to visit these spectacular beaches in Sardinia this summer Greece boosts firefighter and drone numbers to tackle growing risk of wildfires But even as the fire warnings roll in, the Canaries' appeal shows no signs of slowing down. In 2024, the islands welcomed nearly 18 million tourists, including a record-breaking 15.5 million international arrivals. Among them, British travellers led the way, recording 6.3 million visits – up 500,000 from 2023. While the Canary Islands continue to attract record numbers of tourists, residents are increasingly voicing concerns about overtourism. In April 2024, tens of thousands of islanders participated in protests, holding signs that read 'the Canary Islands have a limit' while rallying against rising housing costs, environmental damage and the strain on public services. Over Easter this year, about 80,000 hospitality workers in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro walked out in a dispute with unions over pay. The surge in short-term rentals has been especially contentious. Locals have reported getting priced out of their neighbourhoods as properties are converted into holiday lets, the cost of living soars and wages stagnate. Despite these concerns, tourism remains a significant part of the Canary Islands' economy, accounting for approximately 35 per cent of its GDP. After welcoming seven million tourists in 2024, Tenerife remains the most visited island. Its year-round sunshine and wide beaches keep it a firm favourite among families, especially during the UK's summer school break and throughout the winter months. Related Svalbard, Chios, El Hierro: How these European islands have successfully avoided overtourism Is it safe to travel to Lanzarote? Latest advice after Storm Olivier sweeps through Canary Islands As the peak summer season picks up, local tourism boards have made no indication that the fire pre-alerts will disrupt travel plans. But authorities remain focused on prevention this year. More than 2,000 firefighters are on standby. Meanwhile, the government has distributed detailed safety advice, urging people to prepare a go-bag, stay informed and follow emergency evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions if fires erupt.
