h/t Jo O’Sullivan

(in the style of David Attenborough)

The official breeding season of the Greater Common NZ Orange Cone has commenced, with herds starting to appear again. The cones are emerging from hibernation to engage in their yearly reproductive ritual, with the breeding season reaching a peak mid December to end of January.

The cones can be found gathering in herds along familiar routes as they feed on their normal diet of tarmac and gravel, displaying their bright orange plummage; the males recognisable by their luminous bands. These herds can however be a hazard, they have been known to surround stationary vehicles with little warning, imparing travel for hours.

As summer progresses, there are usually incidents reported of dazed and dehydrated travelers reporting to Z, Gull and BP garages, exhausted and seeking sustenance having encountered herds of young amorous cones. Of note the courtship and mating ritual has never been filmed: rumours abound of this occurring on warm, dry, moonless nights away from prying eyes.

As Winter approaches they will again prepare to migrate en masse back to the many ‘Caverns del Higgins’ to wait out the cold weather. The females giving birth to their young, and nurturing then in the quiet dark while the males stack around the edges protectively. They will also collectively hibernate for a short period prior to emerging again in spring , where the cycle will recommence.

Though the orange cone is seen in many countries, NZ is becoming known for its great roaming herds of the largest of the species, with a dedicated national phone line now in place to report the movements of the herds. Tourists have been increasingly enthralled by this phenomenon, which has not yet been identified as a major attraction in Government budgets.