Nov 4: Make a bent-legged Kakī

Issue 198

Mar - Apr 2026

Black-Backed Gulls
Meth & HIV in Fiji
Dung beetles
Centro
Rogaining

Subscribe

Talking points

Gull spotting

• Editorial

For shame

• In the field

When black-backs attack

• In the field

Two years on Mana Island

• Geo News

Before the flood

• Geo News

A delicious crayfish circle of life

Below are some talking points and activities to pass the time, all relating to today’s story.

Talking points

Discuss the ideas presented in the story with your family—at home or over video conferencing. Find ways to involve as many people as possible, especially those who you know are isolated by the lock-down.

• Looking through these beautiful photos of kakī, which ones do you find interesting, appealing, funny or sad? Which would be the best photo to use if you were trying to promote kakī conservation to the public?
• Kakī live in braided rivers. Have you ever seen a braided river? How could you describe one to someone who hadn’t? If you haven’t, you could search for images to see what these special rivers look like.
• Kakī are now only found in the Mackenzie Basin. One reason they were killed by predators in every other location is because they freeze when they sense danger. Do you know of any other birds that do this? (The brown teal or Pāteke is one.)
• DOC ranger Cody Thyne reckons kakī are special because they’re a Canterbury icon – like locals they have been through a lot. Do you like the idea of a region “adopting” a native species as their special icon or mascot? What would be a good native species to represent the place you live in?
• You might like to learn more about wading birds – how do wading birds use their long beaks to feed? What kinds of food are kakī likely to be looking for? What other wading birds do you know of?

Activity: Make a bent-legged Kakī

Use split pins to make a kakī with super bendy legs.

You will need:

• Split pins
• Paper
• A pencil and eraser
• Colouring in pencils or crayons

Step One: Choose one of the photos from the article and use it as inspiration to draw an outline of a kakī. Make the legs a little longer above and below the knee. (The legs must also be big enough at the knees to secure a split pin through them.)

Step Two: Cut out your drawing. Cut the legs in two at the knees. Colour in your picture as you would like it to be. (It might be a juvenile or a fully-black adult.)

Step Three: Cut a slit through the top of the lower legs and the bottom of the upper legs. Insert a slit pin first through the top leg and then through the bottom leg on each side. Move the legs into a position you are happy with. Mount your kaki onto backing paper if you want to.

Send us a picture of your bent-legged kakī!