Lumen 22-3 Seeing a Kiwi Posted – April 20, 2022 Irrelevant tid bit – Don’t mistake the edge of a rut for the horizon. James Patterson “Cat & Mouse” Several years ago, New Zealand called and I answered, after all, where else can you see a Kiwi? In addition to being the nick-name for anyone from New Zealand and the national symbol and icon of New Zealand, Kiwis are also fascinating as real birds. They only live in New Zealand, likely the product of its long isolation from outside biological influence. The five species of Kiwis are nocturnal and flightless with poor vision, almost no wings, and hair-like feathers. Their excellent sense of smell is tied to nostrils and numerous nerve-endings at the end of a long flexible bill, which they use to probe for prey in the undergrowth and duff of New Zealand’s forests. Their...