Meetings and Speakers

September Meeting

September 14, 2026

Birding Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu, New Zealand

Dr. Meena Harribal

Naturalist, nature photographer, adventure traveler

Description: In Maori, Aotearoa means "Land of Long White Cloud,"  which is the northern island of New Zealand. Te Waipounamu means "The Place of Green Stone,." which is the southern island of New Zealand. Before the arrival of humans,  the birds were fearless as there were no land predators. The arrival of western civilization brought animals such as sheep, dogs, cats and rats, which decimated the local fauna and flora.  Currently, conservationists are working to restore native and wild New Zealand by eradicating pests and protecting native fauna and flora. Meena visited a few such locations in a month and a half of travel, including Tiritiri Matangi, Zealandia, and Pelagic trips from Tutukaka and Kaikoura.  She will share her experience and the wildlife she observed with photos, audio recordings and videos. 

Bio: Meena is a long-time Cayuga Bird Club member. She is a naturalist, photographer, videographer, sound recorder and scientist and has traveled all over the world to seek nature. She retired from Cornell where she worked as a chemical ecologist and evolutionary biologist as well asa teacher of Indian languages.