This is the 35th cache in my (and others) Blenheim Chorus Cabinet Art (CCA) series, and is the second of this subject. The other is CCA No. 29 - Tūī with Kōwhai (GCAPXY0), a multi placed by ricardinho.nz. This is the second cabinet art that has come to my attention painted by Charlotte Buskin (charlottebuskinart.co.nz) who specialises in native birdlife.
Tūī conservation
Tūī are unique to New Zealand and belong to the honeyeater family, which means they feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants. In New Zealand their status is 'Native, Not Threatened', although the Chatham Islands tūī is a threatened subspecies of the tūī.
Tūī can be found throughout the three main islands of New Zealand. They are scarce only in drier, largely open, country east of the Southern Alps. They live in native forests, bush reserves, and bush remnants.
These attractive birds can often be heard singing their beautiful melodies before they are spotted. You will recognise them by their distinctive white tuft under their throat.
They are important pollinators of many native trees and will fly large distances, especially during winter for their favourite foods. They feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants such as kōwhai, puriri, rewarewa, kahikatea, pohutukawa, rātā and flax. Occasionally they will eat insects too.
Predator control
Protective of their living space, tūī have been known to defend themselves against magpies and even 'mob' harriers. The tūī has suffered in the past with the introduction of predators such as possums, feral cats, rats, stoats, and ferrets, and the destruction of habitat.
<p>A good sign of a successful restoration programme in areas of New Zealand, is the sound of the tūī warbling in surrounding shrubs.</p>
<p>Effective predator control in various regions around New Zealand has resulted in a dramatic increase in tūī numbers. For example, it's reported that in Wellington there has been an eight-fold increase in tūī numbers since the council began pest control in parks and reserves across the wider city region.
The 'Cache'
This is a puzzle cache, so do not go to the listed coordinates, you will be very exposed in the centre of a busy round-a-bout. The cache can be found by finding out the actual location of the cabinet art, then completing the Jigidi puzzle to get a distance and bearing from the cabinet in order to find the cache.
Puzzle
B.Y.O.P