southern halo ( 1983 – 2009 ) was an american-bred thoroughbred racehorse and sire .

in his racing career he ran twenty-four times winning five races and finishing second in the grade i swaps stakes and super derby .

he is chiefly notable for his remarkable career at stud where he was leading sire in argentina on ten occasions and the sire of 170 stakes winners , 56 of them group/grade i winners , and 16 of them were champions .

southern halo

original southern halo song co - written by natalia morris of southern halo and melissa bollea rowe .
it all started when . . . | we are halo | southern halo season 1 preview
official twitter page for sister trio country pop band southern halo . new album # justlikeinthemovies available now !
nineteen - year - old southern halo ( halo - - northern sea , by northern dancer ) stands for $ 15 , 000 .
take a look at the official music video for
rewind
by southern halo directed by : james & heather mathews written by : c . neal , g ' . o ' brien and c . gravitt copyright 2016 - southern halo
take a look at the official music video for
rewind
by southern halo directed by : james & heather mathews written by : c . neal , g ' . o ' brien and c . gravitt copyright 2016 - southern halo show less
the latter , like former equus champion entisaar , is a son of outstanding shuttle sire more than ready ( himself a son of the halo stallion southern halo ) .
leading sire kantharos ( lion heart–contessa halo , by southern halo ) is moving from ocala stud in florida to hill ‘n’ dale farms in lexington , kentucky , stonestreet stables announced thursday .
we are proud to introduce our music video for
little white dress
our debut single off the self titled album southern halo ! take a look and be sure to check back each week for new videos and don ' t forget to subscribe ! published on august 25 , 2015 . music video by southern halo performing little white dress . produced by james matthews films . ( c ) 2015 southern halo publishing .
cangon stud farm owner jamie mackay has announced that snapy halo , a group 1 winning son of southern halo , has been retired to stand at his hunter valley based property in 2011 .
“i think it ' s pretty fair to say that snapy halo is the best bred son of southern halo to ever stand in australasia which certainly bodes well for his chances , ” said mackay .
southern halo also stood at john magnier and partners’ ashford stud near versailles , ky . , and in japan . his kentucky - bred stakes winners include millionaire
southern halo won or placed in 15 of 22 races and earned $ 344 , 875 in north america for owner stavros niarchos while trained by d . wayne lukas . southern halo’s five stakes - placings included runner - up efforts in the super derby ( gr . i ) and the swaps stakes ( gr . i ) .
halo became a sire - of - sires which besides sunday silence , included saint ballado and southern halo who died aged 26 after a very successful career at stud in argentina - being a leading sire for eight years .
the most influential and successful argentine stallion of the past generation , southern halo was a son of halo and the northern dancer mare northern sea . bred by e . p . taylor , southern halo sold for $ 600 , 000 as a yearling to stavros niarchos , who raced him in the u . s . second in both the g1 super derby and swaps stakes as a 3 - year - old in 1986 but not a stakes winner during his racing career , southern halo had to sail afar to find stallion success when niarchos sold him for export as a stallion prospect .
it’s hard , it’s between kitchen notes at the omni , they have the best buffet , but then there’s the southern .
markedly back at the knee , upright in the pasterns and a non - stakes winner to boot , southern halo was always going to be a marginal stud prospect in kentucky . however , prominent argentine stud farm haras la quebrada gave recognition to his impeccable breeding and southern halo was despatched to a stallion career in argentina , where he would rewrite the record books .
halo surface brightnesses that are generally in reasonable agreement with those inferred from the best - fit halo models in this paper . however , the halo temperatures inferred from the o
, we showed that the halo emission measure tends to increase from the outer to the inner galaxy , at least in the southern galactic hemisphere . we previously noted a similar trend for the
southern halo will be buried at haras la quebrada near another north american - bred stallion , solazo , sire of the second dam of north america’s two - time horse of the year cigar .
central kentucky stallion southern halo entered into the history books by becoming the 14th stallion to top the 100 mark by number of stakes winners among those stallions who stood at least one season in north america . southern halo , who began his stallion career in south america and now has 102 stakes winners , has held court at ashford stud near versailles , ky . , starting in 1996 .
not so long afterward , southern halo was restricted solely to covering in the southern hemisphere , and his production of top racers in argentina has continued . the stallion ' s influence in the northern hemisphere has enjoyed a renewal of success as more than ready has steadily earned respect as one of the best stallions in the world .
none of the estrellas is so closely linked to the giant reputation of southern halo than the sprint , which went to offspring of the stallion six times in seven year from 1995 through 2001 . three of those were , however , the years that the wonderful wally dominated speed in the southern hemisphere to a degree that is unrivaled . the extraordinary daughter of southern halo out of the logical mare welcome won the sprint in 1995 through 1997 , when she was pretty much the fastest thing to wear plates in the racing world .
this entry was posted in bloodlines archive and tagged buster ' s ready , estrellas classic , more than ready , mother goose stakes , southern halo , star runner by frank mitchell . bookmark the permalink .
watch southern halo’s “little white dress” video and let us know what you think of country music’s emerging sibling trio . also , make sure to follow the girls on twitter , facebook , and by checking out their website !
halo’s close relationship to northern dancer offered breeders many opportunities to inbreed to their shared grandam , almahmoud , a combination that has resulted in innumerable top horses , including champions serena’s song , fantastic light , ashado , daiwa major , and singspiel , but one of the best racehorses to emerge from the direct cross of halo and a northern dancer mare was southern halo .
today , other sons of halo , including saint ballado and southern halo , are commanding prestige in the breeding sheds as well . as a broodmare sire , halo is equally sensational , with daughters or granddaughters producing champions victory gallop , machiavellian , singspiel , and coup de genie ; classic winners fusaichi pegasus and pine bluff ; and sires such as rahy and silver ghost .
that disappointment , added to the rather academic attitude of sales buyers ' rejecting some of southern halo ' s stock as imperfect , produced a cooling off of the love affair with kentucky breeders that had so quickly sprung around the stallion .
snapy halo is by one of the best sire of sires in the world , southern halo , who was argentina ' s leading sire from 1994 to 2000 , and in 2004 and 2007 . he sired more than 100 stakes winners including 50 winners at the group 1 level , 16 of which were champions .
more than ready’s flying start proved a perfect catalyst for collingrove stud in victoria to import another us - bred sprinting son of southern halo . halo homewrecker hadn’t been as good as sprinter as more than ready , but don’t say halo and more than ready had paved the way for his importation , and the timing was excellent for his arrival at collingrove in advance of the 2005 stud season .
that résumé omission , combined with the fact that he was markedly back at the knee and upright in his pasterns , made him a marginal stud prospect in kentucky , so southern halo was sold to haras la quebrada near buenos aires , argentina . southern halo quickly proved himself the most successful sire of the modern era in argentina , winning seven sire championships and siring 18 argentine champions among his career total of 175 stakes winners from 1 , 828 foals ( 9 . 6 percent ) .
in summary , our observations suggest that the halo is concentrated toward the galactic center . other than that , the morphology of the hot halo remains uncertain . however , our observed emission measures do not vary with latitude in the way expected for a disk - like halo morphology . the patchiness of the halo emission makes it difficult to determine the halo ' s underlying global morphology .
column densities when calculating the attenuation of the halo emission . the details of the morphology of the halo remain uncertain , but the variation of the emission measure with longitude suggests that the halo is concentrated toward the galactic center ( section
in part due to the massive impression that wally made , along with a series of champion juveniles , southern halo became associated with the speed to an inordinate degree . but as star runner and numerous other fine athletes like el compinche and miss linda ( spinster stakes ) have shown , speed was a benefit of breeding to southern halo , not a limitation . many of the stallions ' offspring have excelled at eight , nine , or 10 furlongs , as well as many at the shorter distances .
southern halo , the most successful sire in argentine history , died in his paddock at haras la quebrada near buenos aires from complications from the infirmities of old age , according to gustavo gonzalez . the 24 - year - old maryland - bred son of halo out of the northern dancer mare northern sea had been pensioned this year .
“i ( told ) him goodbye the last weekend . he didn’t suffer or feel pain” , said hernan ceriani cernadas iii , son of the late hernan ceriani cernadas and owner of la quebrada with his family . “a few days ago , when someone said that southern halo was the sadler’s wells of argentina , john magnier said , ‘southern halo has joined around him people of the class of robert sangster ( of coolmore ) , e . p . taylor , d . wayne lukas , hernán ceriani cernadas . ’ ”
( b ) , in which the halo temperature was fixed at 2 . 5
intensity , it may also be due to the fact that the halo likely has a complicated temperature and ionization structure , so different methods of characterizing the halo emission may yield different temperatures . despite this , such temperature measurements are still useful for testing halo models , provided the predicted halo emission is treated like the true halo emission . this involves creating synthetic observations from the predicted halo spectra , which are then analyzed with the same sxrb model as the real observations ( hskjm ) .
halo - a horse with the reputation for being anything but angelic . . .
southern halo was argentina’s leading sire from 1994 to 2000 , and in 2004 and 2007 . he topped the broodmare sire’s list from 2004 to 2008 and ranks as the current leader . his 167 stakes winners include 56 group / grade i winners and 16 champions .
we are southern halo ! welcome to our channel ! here you will see our latest interviews , music videos , and . . . . coming in may our new series where we let cameras into our life and show you guys , what h . . .
buenos aires — the victor in the group 1 estrellas classic on saturday at san isidro racecourse in buenos aires was the bay colt star runner , a son of the great us - bred and argentine - based stallion southern halo , who died in november 2009 .
the combination of the stallion ' s immediate success in argentina , internationally recognizable pedigree , and the versatility in his offspring made coolmore reach out and acquire southern halo as a reverse shuttle horse for their burgeoning operation in kentucky at ashford stud in the early 1990s .
as a premium stallion in the argentine , southern halo made his mark from the beginning , and the carreras de las estrellas , renewed for the 21st time this weekend , have proven to be a showcase for the talents and versatility of the stallion and his offspring .
besides snapy halo , esnaola is also the dam of exciting young group 1 winning stallion sebi halo and the champion older mare , halo ola . she has also produced a further three black type placed runners and all this has come from just nine foals .
bred by e . p . taylor , southern halo went through the 1984 keeneland july yearling sale , where he was purchased for $ 600 , 000 by the irish branch of the british bloodstock agency . he initially raced in ireland , where he was unplaced in two starts .
southern halo , who has shuttled back and forth between ashford and argentine the last several years , is represented by several stakes winners from his u . s . crops . the group is led by grade i winner more than ready , who stands at stud at vinery near lexington .
intensity , thus biasing the halo measurements . alternatively , the discrepancy may be due to the halo having a complex multitemperature , multi - ionization - state structure , meaning that the o
despite being a gr1 winner on turf , however , it was through his top class dirt performers sunday silence , devil’s bag , sunny’s halo and glorious song , that halo largely made his mark –a mark potent enough to score halo a pair of us sires titles ( in 1983 and 1989 ) and both sunny’s halo and sunday silence won the gr1 kentucky derby .
a full brother to snapy halo , sebi halo has kicked off his stallion career in great order having produced a group 2 winner among 8 stakes winners in his first two crops .
southern halo ( usa ) b . h , 1983 { 16 - g } dp = 18 - 5 - 23 - 4 - 0 ( 50 ) di = 2 . 23 cd = 0 . 74 - 24 starts , 5 wins , 7 places , 3 shows career earnings : $ 344 , 875
the halo and extragalactic components were both subject to absorption . for this purpose we used the xspec
kzn breeders : halo - a horse with the reputation for being anything but angelic . . .
sadly , halo homewrecker died after only one season at collingrove , but time has shown that he would have had enough potential to write his own ( admittedly small ) chapter in halo’s story .
southern halo also was represented by major north american winners miss linda and edenwold . an argentine - bred champion , miss linda won the 2001 overbrook spinster stakes ( gr . i ) at keeneland . edenwold was voted canada’s 2005 champion 2 - year - old male . he won the following year’s classic queen’s plate stakes .
) . similarly , column 13 contains the best - fit halo emission measure . as noted in section
bred by northern dancer’s breeder , e . p . taylor , out of 1977 grade 3 test stakes winner northern sea from the great family of lea lark , southern halo clearly possessed plenty of racing ability . purchased for $ 600 , 000 at the 1984 keeneland july sale by stavros niarchos , he failed to place at 2 in ireland but won 5 of 22 starts for trainer d . wayne lukas over the next two years in america . southern halo was beaten only a head by clear choice in the 1986 grade 1 swaps stakes and finished second in the grade 1 super derby to wise times , but he never managed to win a stakes race .
column density used to attenuate the halo and extragalactic components . column 12 contains the best - fit halo temperature , along with the statistical error ( 90 % confidence interval for one interesting parameter ; lampton et al .
measurements suggests that , in fact , our choice of foreground model is not adversely affecting our halo measurements .
southern halo , made up of natalia ( pronounced natalie - uh ) , christina , and hannah , a trio of sisters from the mississippi delta , recently released its debut single , “ little white dress , ” to radio . the track marks the lead single off the group’s self - titled debut album and is already receiving spins across the country .
glorious song was by no means the only daughter of halo to leave behind a top sire son –halo matriarch coup de folies produced three gr1 winners , including champion 2yo colt and outstanding sire machiavellian ( mr prospector ) .
as a stallion , halo’s image ( halo - - sugar’s image , by valid appeal ) is represented by 39 stakes horses and the earners of $ 20 . 5 million . the best of his 17 stakes winners ,
) , we find that this leads to an uncertainty in the halo surface brightness typically of only ±0 . 3
to say that the halo male line has enjoyed its most success outside the states , would be an understatement .
emission from the outer to the inner galaxy , in agreement with the halo measurements presented here . these results argue against the hot halo having a simple plane - parallel disk - like morphology , in which case the emission measure would be independent of galactic longitude . instead , these results suggest a halo that is concentrated toward the galactic center .
the majority of southern halo ' s stakes winners have come from his argentine crops . he is represented by some 35 argentine group i winners , including miss linda . a champion in argentina who was imported to the u . s . in 2000 , miss linda won a u . s . grade i stakes last year and is a grade iii winner this year .
an xmm - newton survey of the soft x - ray background . iii . the galactic halo x - ray emission
pensioned from stud duty at stone farm in 1997 , halo passed away at the age of 31 late in 2000 .
our halo emission measures do not decrease with increasing galactic latitude , contrary to what is expected for a plane - parallel disk - like halo morphology . this result appears not to be an artifact of soft proton contamination , nor of our using h
halo spent most of his career at stone farm and produced a number of champions , amongst them devil ' s bag - who happens to be a full brother to glorious song and sunny ' s halo - winner of the 1983 kentucky derby .
figure 7 . 0 . 5–2 . 0 kev halo surface brightnesses against halo temperatures . sight lines on which the original target of the xmm - newton observation was a galaxy cluster are colored orange . the triangles indicate upper limits on the surface brightnesses .
the halo male line in america suffered another serious blow seven years ago when 2005 horse of the year saint liam , the best son of halo’s leading sire son saint ballado , died after only one season at stud without leaving an obvious male heir .
2nd super derby invitational ( g1 ) , swaps s ( g1 ) , silver screen h . ( g2 ) , el cajon s . ; 3rd kensington h . leading sire in argentina 8 times . southern halo is the sire of 120 stakes winners , including 88 graded / group winners , and 12 champions , according to jockey club records . he currently stands exclusively at haras la quebrada , argentina .
figure 5 . halo emission measure against ( a ) b for the northern galactic hemisphere , ( b ) b for the southern galactic hemisphere , ( c ) | l | for the northern galactic hemisphere ( see equation ( 2 ) ) , and ( d ) | l | for the southern galactic hemisphere . panels ( a ) and ( d ) show the only two examples of statistically significant correlations in table 3 ; the other two panels are shown for comparison . detections are shown with crosses and error bars ; upper limits are shown with triangles . the red data points indicate emission measures from sight lines for which the temperature was fixed at 2 . 1 × 10 6 k .
an xmm - newton survey of the soft x - ray background . iii . the galactic halo x - ray emission - iopscience
, respectively . they subsequently used a foreground model with these oxygen intensities to obtain their halo measurements . gupta et al . (
halo’s image stood this season for a fee of $ 4 , 000 . his 10 - year - old half - brother ,
, won the 2004 santa anita handicap ( gr . i ) and pimlico special ( gr . i ) and the $ 1 million barretts / ctba classic stakes the year he was florida’s horse of the year . southern image earned a career total of $ 1 , 843 , 750 .
halo sired seven champions and 62 stakes winners , and led the leading sire list twice . standout runners sired by halo included goodbye halo , who counted the kentucky oaks among her seven gr 1 victories , strodes creek , who was second in the 1994 kentucky derby and third in the belmont stakes gr 1 , and millionaire lively one , whose long list of accomplishments included the swaps stakes gr 1 . halo ' s progeny earned over $ 44 million on the racetrack and have netted far more in the breeding shed .
in only two cases is the correlation statistically significant at the 5 % level . the halo emission measure is positively correlated with | b | in the northern hemisphere ( i . e . , the emission measure tends to increase from low latitudes to the pole ; see figure 5 ( a ) ) . there is no correlation between emission measure and | b | in the southern hemisphere ( see figure 5 ( b ) ) . however , the emission measure is negatively correlated with | l | in the southern hemisphere ( i . e . , the emission measure tends to increase from the outer galaxy to the inner galaxy , as noted in the previous section ; see figure 5 ( d ) ) .
today , the late sunday silence is immortalized as the greatest sire and sire of sires in japanese history , a horse so good that even less - accomplished sons like silent name and hat trick are making a positive contribution in the land of their father’s birth . another unheralded son of halo , the beautifully bred southern halo , became one of the greatest sires in argentine history , and his best american son , more than ready , is the sire of current kentucky derby favorite verrazano , who is exactly the type of horse that will make breeders salivate .
and the number of degrees of freedom . column 15 contains the intrinsic 0 . 5–2 . 0 kev surface brightness of the halo ,
halo developed into a good grass horse at 3 , winning the lawrence realization , which attracted a bid from english breeder irving allen . when allen’s representatives discovered that halo was a cribber ( a horse that clings to objects with his teeth and sucks air into his stomach ) – then considered a disqualifying flaw by old - fashioned english breeders – the sale was rescinded and halo returned to the barn of trainer mackenzie miller . halo improved further as a 5 - year - old , winning the grade 1 united nations handicap and grade 2 tidal handicap , earning a place at windfields farm alongside his “cousin” northern dancer , a son of a half - sister to halo’s dam .
although a stallion ' s success at stud is usually defined by statistics , his true legacy carries far deeper than mere numbers . halo , one of only 18 stallions in history to sire more than one derby winner , certainly has impressive statistics , but to stone farm , halo represents more than sheer numbers . halo meant the world to stone farm , partly because he gave stone farm 1989 horse of the year sunday silence .
while roberto horses ended up excelling all around the world , the influence of hail to reason’s other extremely influential son , halo , has largely been much more localized . halo wasn’t as good a racehorse as roberto ( whose derby victory was only his second greatest triumph , as his defeat of
the latest chapter in the halo success story can be seen in south africa –thanks to the exploits of last season’s leading first crop sire gimmethegreenlight .
that overwhelming success led to ashford stud re - importing him as a shuttle sire in 1996 , but he did not meet the same success in the land of his birth . southern halo sired canadian champion edenwold , but by far his most important north american - conceived offspring was more than ready . out of the woodman mare woodman’s girl , more than ready was bred by woodlynn farm and sold for $ 187 , 000 to edward rosen as agent for james scatuorchio .
intensity in our spectral fitting , and thus overestimating the halo temperature . however , d . b . henley & r . l . shelton ( in preparation ) also point out that the halo emission likely originates from plasma with a range of temperatures and in a range of ionization states . if this is the case , the spectral fitting described here will not necessarily arrive at the same best - fit halo temperature as that inferred from the o
column densities to attenuate the halo emission . by using such column densities , we could potentially be neglecting the contributions to the absorption from regions containing h
we defer a detailed comparison of our observations to models of the hot halo to a follow - up paper ( d . b . henley et al . , in preparation ) . however , here we make some general comments on the implications of our results for the origin of the hot halo .
in the spring of 1983 , the northern dancer mare northern sea foaled a halo colt at windfields whose pedigree featured a coupling of the half - sisters cosmah and natalma ( the dam of northern dancer ) . sent to the keeneland yearling sale , he was purchased by the bba on behalf of stavros niarchos for $ 600 , 000 . unplaced in two starts in europe , the colt , now named southern halo , returned to the states to join the american stable of master trainer d wayne lukas , for whom he won five times and ran second in both the gr . 1 swaps stakes and the gr . 1 super derby .
we are unable to distinguish between extragalactic accretion and outflows from the disk as the source of the ~ ( 2–3 ) × 10 6 k halo plasma . both processes have more than enough energy to maintain the halo ' s surface brightness , and other aspects of the halo emission ( such as the increase in emission measure toward the inner galaxy and the general patchiness of the emission ) could plausibly be explained by either scenario ( section 5 . 5 ) . a detailed comparison of our measurements with the predictions of hydrodynamical models of the halo is needed to distinguish between different scenarios for the heating of the halo . we will carry out such a comparison in a follow - up paper ( d . b . henley et al . , in preparation ) .
; d . b . henley & r . l . shelton , in preparation ) , we conclude that our choice of foreground model is not seriously biasing our measurements of the halo surface brightness . similarly , our halo temperatures agree with those from other studies that use spectral fitting ( yoshino et al .
spectra , which requires us to fix the normalization of the extragalactic background , potentially introduces some uncertainty in the normalization of the halo x - ray emission .
now , with the emergence of potent young sire gimmethegreenlight , the spotlight has fallen on a lesser known son of hail to reason , the fiery halo .
in the following subsections , we compare our measurements with those from previous studies , we discuss the effect of our assumed foreground model on our halo measurements , and we consider sources of contamination that could be affecting our halo measurements ( sections 5 . 1 – 5 . 3 , respectively ) . we conclude that contamination and our choice of foreground model are , in general , not adversely affecting our halo measurements . then , in section 5 . 4 , we discuss the morphology of the hot halo . finally , in section 5 . 5 , we comment on the implications of our measurements for the origin of the hot halo ( deferring a more detailed study of this issue to a follow - up paper ; d . b . henley et al . , in preparation ) .
as noted in section 2 . 1 , our sample of xmm - newton observations includes 20 that were analyzed in the hskjm . the halo temperatures that we have measured for these sight lines are generally in good agreement with those measured in hskjm , and there is no systematic difference in the halo temperatures ( although it should be noted that for five of these sight lines we had to fix the halo temperature at 2 . 1 × 10 6 k for the current analysis ) .
in 1984 , texas oilman tom tatham purchased 25 of the 40 shares in halo ' s syndicate and moved the stallion to kentucky to stand at stone farm .
although most of his stallion career was spent at stone farm , halo originally entered stud in 1975 at windfields in maryland where his first crop yielded glorious song , the canadian horse of the year . subsequent champions included devil ' s bag ( full brother to glorious song ) , sunny ' s halo ( winner of the 1983 kentucky derby - g1 ) , and of course , sunday silence ( derby , preakness s . - g1 , and breeders ' cup classic - g1 winner ) , who was conceived during halo ' s second breeding season at stone farm . in all , halo sired seven champions , 62 stakes winners , and led the leading sire list twice in the 1980s . standout runners sired by halo included goodbye halo , who counted the kentucky oaks among her seven g1 victories , strodes creek , who was second in the 1994 kentucky derby and third in the belmont s . - g1 , and millionaire lively one , whose long list of accomplishments included the swaps s . - g1 . halo ' s progeny earned over $ 44 million on the racetrack and have netted far more in the breeding shed .
and just as he had with his initial mares in argentina , southern halo scored a big hit early in the bluegrass . the star he sired in kentucky is one of lasting brilliance : more than ready . as a high - class 2 - year - old , more than ready won five of his seven starts , including the flash , tremont , and sanford . the dark brown colt added victories in the g1 king ' s bishop and g2 hutcheson the following year but was not a star for the triple crown .
uniformly better regarded at his southern hemisphere shuttle base in australia than in kentucky , more than ready has done his part to make believers of northern hemisphere breeders too . in last year ' s breeders ' cup , the stallion had both the juvenile turf winners , and this weekend , his daughter buster ' s ready won the g1 mother goose stakes at belmont .
, whose excellent season in 1990 / ’91 ( in which he won the blue diamond and finished second in the golden slipper ) saw don’t say halo crowned the country’s leading sire of two - year - olds . ultimately , don’t say halo became a very good broodmare sire , his daughters breeding the likes of ajc derby winner
alter added : “the combination of his racing career and his breeding career put him into a select group of florida horses . i trained his mother , sugar’s image , who was the winningest valid appeal mare , and we chose to breed her to halo . all my expectations became true when halo’s image hit the racetrack . ”
star winner earned the fifth estrellas classic trophy for his sire , who also won with el compinche ( 1996 and 1998 ) , manpower ( 2003 ) , and fairy magic ( 2007 ) . over the years , offspring of southern halo have won 17 of the previous grand premios that make up the estrellas program , and the stallion has had a winner of each of the seven races that make up the bulk of the card : the classic , distaff , sprint , junior sprint , mile , juvenile , and juvenile fillies .
observation . they then combine this prior with oxygen intensities from other directions to constrain the posterior probability distribution for the intrinsic halo emission . this new technique yields combined o
and the number of degrees of freedom . column 15 contains the intrinsic 0 . 5–2 . 0 kev surface brightness of the halo , calculated using the best - fit 1
halo sired sunday silence , the defining horse who has continued his legacy . sunday silence was exported to japan and has become the top sire in history in that country .
snapy halo will stand his first season at a fee of $ 6 , 500 plus gst . a lifetime breeding right is priced at $ 10 , 000 plus gst .
pensioned from stud duty in 1997 , halo passed away at the age of 31 late in 2000 .
you have to rejoice that halo lived to be almost 32 ,
arthur b . hancock iii , owner of stone farm , told the blood - horse at the time .
we were so grateful to have had him .
we typically used a 1 t raymond & smith ( 1977 and updates ) model to model the galactic halo emission , assuming that the halo plasma is in collisional ionization equilibrium , and assuming anders & grevesse ( 1989 ) solar abundances . although the true halo emission is likely from plasma at a range of temperatures ( yao & wang 2007 ; shelton et al . 2007 ; lei et al . 2009 ; yao et al . 2009 ) , a 1 t model is generally adequate to characterize the x - ray emission in the xmm - newton band . we used a raymond & smith model in order to match the code used to calculate x - ray emission from hydrodynamical models of the halo ( hskjm ; d . b . henley et al . , in preparation ) . in general , the temperature and emission measure of this component were free parameters in the fitting . in some cases , typically when the halo emission was faint , xspec ' s error command was unable to determine the statistical error on the halo temperature . in a few additional cases , the best - fit temperature was > 5 × 10 6 k , but very poorly constrained . in such cases , we fixed the halo temperature at 2 . 1 × 10 6 k , and redid the fit . this temperature was chosen as it was the median halo temperature resulting from our preliminary analysis of our data set .
in the breeders’ cup sprint over six furlongs at churchill downs . retiring to vinery stud in kentucky in 2001 , more than ready was an obvious candidate to be shuttled to vinery’s southern hemisphere outpost , the former segenhoe stud at scone in new south wales , so that was what he did later that year – and such has been his success there ( most notably with the golden slipper winners
the distinct talents and personalities of the sisters of southern halo blend together on its debut effort , “little white dress , ” providing country music fans with an energetic , beautifully performed piece of art . though the title of the track gives the impression that a love song is ahead , the tune is actually about putting the brakes on a relationship before it gets too far too fast . considering the girls are eighteen , sixteen , and fifteen , respectively , the lyrics are age appropriate , while also speaking to anybody who isn’t necessarily ready for that next big step .
were not contaminating the hskjm halo measurements ) . instead , the difference is most likely due to our using a lower normalization for the extragalactic background ( the extragalactic normalization used in
the variation ( or lack thereof ) of the halo emission measure with latitude is also different from that expected for a plane - parallel disk - like halo morphology . in such a morphology , the emission measure is expected to decrease with latitude as 1 / sin | b | . instead , we find the halo emission measure to weakly increase with latitude in the north , and to be uncorrelated with latitude in the south ( see table 3 , and figures 5 ( a ) and ( b ) ) . similarly , we previously found that our sxrb oxygen intensity measurements argued against a plane - parallel halo model in the northern galactic hemisphere ( see hs12 , section 4 . 3 . 3 ) .
column densities is unlikely to be responsible for our emission measure measurements not following the trend expected for a disk - like halo morphology . note also that yoshino et al . (
. somewhat surprisingly , increasing the brightness of the extragalactic background from its nominal value generally leads to an increase in the halo surface brightness . this is because increasing the brightness of the extragalactic background causes the soft proton component to decrease in brightness to compensate , and the combination of these effects leads to more flux being attributed to the halo emission ( see section
in the grade two woody stephens handicap at belmont the following month . unfortunately , he failed to progress from this , although he did finish second in a six - furlong listed race at colonial downs the following year . by the end of 2004 , though , he hadn’t really done enough to make him particularly appealing to the american stallion market – but the success of more than ready meant that by 2005 the time was right for another fast son of southern halo to be imported into australia . halo homewrecker was fast , had won three of his 15 starts including one graded stake , and was closely related to several very good horses , so collingrove stud in victoria snapped him up , offering his services to breeders in 2005 for $ 6 , 600 ( inc . gst ) .
it should be noted that our best - fit halo models attribute somewhat less r45 ( 3 / 4 kev ) emission to the galactic halo than kuntz & snowden ' s ( 2000 ) analysis of the rosat all - sky survey . for sight lines on which emission is detected , our best - fit models typically imply observed halo r45 count rates of ( 18–49 ) × 10 −6 counts s −1 arcmin −2 ( median = 27 × 10 −6 counts s −1 arcmin −2 ) . in contrast , kuntz & snowden ( 2000 ) inferred an observed halo r45 count rate of 38 . 6 × 10 −6 counts s −1 arcmin −2 in the vicinity of the northern galactic pole ( their table 2 :
remainder
−
stars
) . however , the uncertainty on the kuntz & snowden ( 2000 ) halo r45 count rate is not stated , so we are unable to determine whether or not this discrepancy is significant .
halo’s 60 plus stakes winners included a string of champions , and his son sunday silence was named us horse of the year in 1989 . other champions sired by him included devil’s bag and glorious song , while his daughter goodbye halo surely rates as one of the best horses never named a champion –she won 11 races , with her 7 gr1 victories including the kentucky oaks .
figure 4 shows maps of the measured halo temperatures and emission measures . from a visual inspection of figures 4 ( a ) and ( c ) , it appears that the halo temperature is in general rather uniform . figures 4 ( b ) and ( d ) , meanwhile , show that there is considerable variation in the emission measure of the halo plasma . in the northern hemisphere , no clear trends are apparent from figure 4 ( b ) ( although see section 4 . 1 ) . from figure 4 ( d ) , it appears that the halo emission measure in the south tends to increase from the outer galaxy ( l = 180° ) to the inner galaxy ( l = 0° ) , a trend which we will confirm in the following section .
we noted in section 4 that the halo emission measure and intrinsic surface brightness vary by an order of magnitude over the sky , while the temperature is fairly uniform ( see figure 3 ) . figures 4 ( b ) and ( d ) show that the halo emission is patchy ( yoshino et al . 2009 ; hs10 ; hskjm ) . such patchiness may favor a stochastic , inhomogeneous energy source , such as sne , as the source of the hot halo ( hskjm ) . however , if accreting extragalactic material fragments as it accretes , it too could lead to patchy emission .
in 1984 , texas oilman tom tatham purchased 25 of the 40 shares in halo ' s syndicate and moved the stallion to kentucky to stand at stone farm . while at stone farm , halo sired sunday silence , the defining horse who will carry on his legacy . sunday silence is known as the
northern dancer of japan
and has become the top sire in history in that country .
to estimate the systematic errors due to our fixing the foreground normalization , we reanalyzed each sight line with a foreground normalization corresponding to an r12 count rate of 610 counts s −1 arcmin −2 ( this is the median of the values in column 10 of table 1 ) . we then used the median differences between the original halo parameters and these new halo parameters to estimate the systematic errors due to our fixing the foreground normalization , yielding ±0 . 046 × 10 6 k and ±0 . 027 dex for the halo temperature and emission measure , respectively . we applied these systematic errors to all sight lines .
halo raced for four years and in 1974 , at age five , won the grade i united nations handicap . he achieved nine wins from 31 starts and earned over a quarter of a million dollars .
of all the numerous high class athletes and sires descended from the great tap root mare almahmoud ( mahmoud ) , few have enjoyed more influence worldwide than the famously evil tempered halo , writes sarah whitelaw .
above , we noted that the presence of the soft proton contamination in the xmm - newton spectra potentially introduces some uncertainty in the normalization of the halo x - ray emission . in general , our halo measurements and those obtained with suzaku ( which does not suffer from soft proton contamination ) are in reasonable agreement . this suggests that , in practice , soft proton contamination is not a major source of bias .
we detected emission from ~ ( 2–3 ) × 10 6 k plasma on 87 of our sight lines ( 79 % ) , with typical emission measures of ( 1 . 4–3 . 0 ) × 10 −3 cm −6 pc , and typical intrinsic 0 . 5–2 . 0 kev surface brightnesses of ( 1 . 1–2 . 3 ) × 10 −12 erg cm −2 s −1 deg −2 ( section 4 ) . the halo emission measure tends to increase from the outer to the inner galaxy in the southern galactic hemisphere ( section 4 . 1 ) . there is some evidence that the halo is hotter and has a larger emission measure in the southern hemisphere than in the north ( section 4 . 2 ) . however , the differences may be partly due to the fact that we are not comparing equivalent regions in both hemispheres . because of the presence of the sco - cen superbubble , we excluded the region toward the inner galaxy in the northern hemisphere but not in the south , and , as noted above , the emission measure increases toward the inner galaxy in the south . in addition , it should be noted that the difference in the median temperature between the hemispheres ( ~ 0 . 2 × 10 6 k ) is less than the typical error on the temperature ( ~ ± 0 . 4 × 10 6 k ) .
the winner of 6 races from 19 starts , snapy halo was an exceptionally fast horse , winning races from 1000m to 1600m in the sort of times that stamp him as a horse of the highest calibre .
swcx emission is also unlikely to be adversely affecting our halo measurements : our observations were selected from hs12 ' s catalog as they were expected to be the least contaminated by swcx emission ( section 2 . 1 ) , and in section 5 . 2 we argued that our choice of foreground model is not seriously biasing our measurements of the halo surface brightness . in this subsection , we consider other potential sources of contamination .
we have presented measurements of the galactic halo ' s x - ray emission on 110 xmm - newton sight lines . this is an approximately fourfold increase in the number of sight lines over the previous largest study of the galactic halo with ccd - resolution x - ray spectra ( hskjm ) . our sample of observations is drawn from an xmm - newton survey of the sxrb ( hs12 ) . we selected these observations as they should be the least contaminated by charge exchange emission from within the solar system . we analyzed the spectra with a standard sxrb model , with components representing the foreground , galactic halo , and extragalactic background emission .
figure 3 . ( a ) halo emission measure and ( b ) intrinsic 0 . 5–2 . 0 kev halo surface brightness against halo temperature , from our spectral modeling . black : the temperature was free to vary , and is well constrained . gray : the temperature was free to vary , but is poorly constrained ( combined statistical and systematic confidence interval spans more than 4 × 10 6 k ) . red : the temperature was fixed at t = 2 . 1 × 10 6 k ( see section 3 . 1 . 2 ) . the red triangles indicate upper limits on the emission measures and surface brightnesses . note that to avoid clutter , the red data points have been randomly displaced by small amounts in the horizontal direction from t = 2 . 1 × 10 6 k . top panel : histogram of halo temperatures . the sight lines on which the temperature was fixed have been omitted . side panels : histograms of halo emission measures ( upper panel ) and intrinsic surface brightnesses ( lower panel ) . black : detections ; red : upper limits .
halo was no northern dancer as a stallion , but he developed into a terrific sire , with six champions and seven grade 1 winners among his 63 stakes winners from 749 foals ( 8 . 4 percent ) .
in summary , there is some evidence that the halo temperature and emission measure tend to be somewhat higher in the south than in the north . however , these differences may in part be due to the fact that we do not have data from equivalent regions of the halo in the two hemispheres , as the region toward the inner galaxy is excluded in the north ( because of the presence of the sco - cen superbubble ) .
henley et al . ( 2010 , hereafter hskjm ) tested models of the hot halo gas using a sample of 26 sxrb spectra extracted from archival xmm - newton observations between l = 120° and 240° ( henley & shelton 2010 , hereafter hs10 ) . they compared the observed x - ray temperatures and emission measures of the hot halo with the distributions expected from different physical models . hskjm ' s analysis favored fountains of hot gas ( joung & mac low 2006 ) as a major , possibly dominant , contributor to the halo x - ray emission in the xmm - newton band over extraplanar sn remnants ( shelton 2006 ) . however , in the absence of x - ray surface brightness predictions from disk galaxy formation models , they were unable to rule out the possibility that an extended halo of accreted material also contributed to the observed emission ( crain et al . 2010 ) .
yoshino et al . ( 2009 ) did find that the halo emission measure decreased with latitude . however , the decrease with latitude is steeper than that expected for a plane - parallel model ( see their figure 7 ; em × sin | b | is expected to be constant for a plane - parallel model ) . note also that the yoshino et al . ( 2009 ) data set contains far fewer sight lines than ours . the fact that our halo emission measures do not decrease with increasing latitude , contrary to what is expected for a disk - like halo morphology , and contrary to the yoshino et al . ( 2009 ) suzaku results , is unlikely to be due to soft proton contamination ( a problem from which suzaku does not suffer ) . we argued in sections 5 . 1 and 5 . 3 that such contamination does not seriously bias our halo emission measures .


the wrybill or ( in māori ) ngutuparore ( anarhynchus frontalis ) is a species of plover endemic to new zealand .

it is special since it is one of the two species of bird in the world with a beak that is bent sideways ( it is always to the right for wrybill , and the other species is loxia pytyopsittacus ) .

a 2015 study found it to actually be within the charadrius clade , with its closest relatives other plovers found in new zealand , the nearest the new zealand plover or new zealand dotterel ( charadrius obscurus ) , and then the double-banded plover or banded dotterel ( charadrius bicinctus ) .

it lays its eggs among the rocks along rivers and distracts intruders by pretending to be in distress and moving away from its " nest " .

wrybill

miranda is an amazing shorebird location , and we spend time here looking for wrybill and other migrant shorebirds .
range : the wrybill is found in new zealand . it breeds in c south i and winters in n north i .
with it ' s bill curved to the right the wrybill is an uncommon visitor / resident of awarua bay , new zealand .
wrybill breed on large braided rivers in central south island from august - january . they prefer large dynamic rivers that will not become overgrown with weeds . once prevalent on smaller rivers , the wrybill’s range as contracted to about 60 % of its estimated original habitat (
wrybill ( anarhynchus frontalis ) feeding and walking head on showing the bent bill . manawatu estuary , manawatu , new zealand . september .
the wrybill became fully protected in new zealand in 1940 ( 2 ) . research is currently being undertaken into the impact of predation on wrybill population numbers ( 2 ) . long - term monitoring is vital in determining the overall trends in this threatened species ( 2 ) .
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wrybill . front view of adult male in breeding plumage . ohau river delta , mackenzie country , november 2006 . image © craig mckenzie by craig mckenzie
hay , j . r . 1984 . the behavioural ecology of the wrybill plover anarhynchus frontalis . unpublished phd thesis , university of auckland , auckland . urltoken
pierce , r . j . 1979 . foods and feeding of the wrybill ( anarhynchus frontalis ) on its riverbed breeding grounds . notornis 26 : 1 - 21 .
dowding , j . e . 2013 [ updated 2017 ] . wrybill . in miskelly , c . m . ( ed . ) new zealand birds online . urltoken
no other bird in the world has a bill like new zealand’s wrybill . its bill curves to the right , allowing it to probe for insects under river stones .
calls and songs : sounds by xeno - canto the wrybill gives short , high - pitched “tweeps” in flight , before landing . this bird does not call frequently .
davies , s . j . 1997 . population structure , morphometrics , moult , migration , and wintering of the wrybill ( anarhynchus frontalis ) . notornis 44 : 1 - 14 .
protection / threats / status : the wrybill has small population estimated at 3 , 000 / 3 , 300 mature individuals . it is threatened by deterioration of the habitat due to the encroachment of weeds with reduction of the water flow . predation by gulls , stoats and cats is probably substantial too . the increasing use of riverbeds for recreational purposes and floods are also important threats . the wrybill is currently listed as vulnerable .
riegen , a . c . ; dowding , j . e . 2003 . the wrybill anarhynchus frontalis : a brief review of status , threats and work in progress . wader study group bulletin 100 : 20 - 24 .
the wrybill or ngutuparore ( māori ) anarhynchus frontalis is a species of plover endemic to new zealand . it is unique in that it is the only species of bird in the world with an asymmetrically bent bill , which it uses to dig around river stones for freshwater invertebrates . measuring 20–21cm long and weighing between 43–71gm , the wrybill is slightly sexually dimorphic . the most distinctive feature of the bird is the long black bill , which is always curved to the right .
their normal call is a high–pitched staccato whistle resembling that of the banded dotterel , though it is rather more musical . the wrybill does not , however , call nearly so frequently as the dotterel , either when on the ground or in flight .
introduction : the wrybill is the only bird in the world with the bill tip curving to the right . this “tool” is adapted to the feeding behaviour of this species when the bird extracts insects and aquatic preys from rock crevices and under stones . the maori name is ngutuparore .
birds begin to leave the breeding grounds by late december ; this species is one of the first of the season to begin its migration ( 4 ) . using its specially adapted beak , the wrybill is able to forage under stones for invertebrates such as mayfly larvae ( 3 ) .
in those localities on the river - beds , where a diminishing stream leaves large shingle , there the bent bill is of some use . in such situations i have seen wrybill peck under a stone on its left , and then turn around to get the same stone on its right , and peck under it again . it must be admitted , however , that i have often seen banded dotterel act similarly , and , i daresay , just as often as i have seen wrybills do it , so that any advantage the wrybill has would seem to be very slight .
behaviour in the wild : the wrybill feeds on aquatic invertebrates during the breeding season such as worms , annelids and gastropods , and also mites , spiders , and eggs , larvae and pupae of numerous insects , including the adults . it also feeds on crustaceans , fish and their eggs .
the recently rediscovered new zealand storm - petrel , refound for the first time in 150 + years by brent stephenson and sav saville from wrybill birding tours , nz is a key target species . our hauraki gulf pelagic not only finds several other endemic breeding seabirds , but specifically targets this species .
the wrybill is migratory . it breeds in c south i and moves after the breeding season to the mudflats of estuaries and harbours on n north i . they migrate along the e coast of south i and the w coasts of north i . the adults show strong site - fidelity to their wintering grounds .
but on intertidal mudflats , the wrybill tilts the head to the left and performs sideways sweeps with the bill , usually from right to left , in order to sieve preys from water and mud . it often forages in shallow pools , in shallow water in shingle riverbed , on intertidal mudflats and along riverbanks .
the wrybill is an internal migrant . after breeding , almost the entire population migrates north to winter in the harbours of the northern north island , notably the firth of thames and manukau harbour . on their wintering grounds , wrybills form dense flocks at high - water roosts ; the highly - coordinated aerial manoeuvres of these flocks have been described as resembling a flung scarf .
in most writings on the wrybill , the greatest emphasis is laid on the importance of its peculiar bill , but , in my opinion , its colouration is far more important , for this harmonises so perfectly with that of rounded stones among which it breeds that if the bird remains stationary ( and it has a habit of doing so ) it becomes exceedingly difficult to detect .
habitat : the wrybill breeds inland on large , fast - flowing rivers running in bare beds of shingle and sand . occasionally , it may breeds in smaller , slower - running rivers . outside the breeding season , it frequents shallow estuaries and sheltered coasts with large mudflats and muddy lagoons . it may occasionally frequent ploughed areas and muddy shores of small lakes and ponds in mountains .
this site is maintained and copyrighted by wrybill birding tours , nz © 2016 . all photos ( unless otherwise stated ) were taken by brent stephenson @ eco - vista and are copyrighted . the use of any image without permission is not allowed . however , all photos on this site are for sale , please email brent for more information or check out eco - vista ' s website for details .
reproduction of this species : the laying starts in mid - september and continues throughout october . a second clutch may occur from november to late december . the wrybill’s nest is on the ground , in sand , among large , smooth , rounded stones . it is protected by a piece of wood or a larger stone . occasionally , small pebbles are added around the edges of the nest , as lining for the eggs .
wiersma , p . & kirwan , g . m . ( 2018 ) . wrybill ( anarhynchus frontalis ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
as to the wrybill’s chances of survival , one would say that they are good , at any rate on those rivers whose beds among the hills above the gorges are sufficiently wide to be of the bird’s liking , for there the winter temperature seems to have prevented the yellow lupin from getting a foothold . but the open shingle must be a quarter of a mile wide before the wrybill would make their home on it . they were never numerous , and even thirty years ago i should think two to three pairs to the square mile on the rakaia was their maximum population , and , since the lupin has filled the river bed , below the bridge , their numbers have certainly been much reduced . their chief bird enemies are harriers and black–backed gulls , yet the toll that both these take would not equal that of stoats and weasels during the birds’ breeding season .
the wrybill is a small pale plover which breeds only in braided rivers of the south island . it is the only bird in the world with a laterally - curved bill ( always curved to the right ) , which it uses to reach insect larvae under rounded riverbed stones . wrybills are completely dependent on braided rivers for breeding ; all their life stages are predominantly grey , and highly cryptic among the greywacke shingle of the riverbeds .
the wrybill is a distinctive wading bird , which possesses a uniquely bent bill . the tip of the black bill is curved to the right , this adaptation allows these birds to forage under stones for insect larvae ( 3 ) . the plumage is ash - grey above with white underparts . during the breeding season , individuals have a black band across the upper chest and males also have a band on the forehead ( 2 ) .
wrybill birding tours , nz …… . started out as a couple of birding mates making the decision to set up their own independent bird - guiding business . we felt there was a need for real birders , who were passionate about birding , really knew their new zealand birds and birding sites inside out , and were based in new zealand , with access to up - to - date information on the new zealand birding scene . sure we know our natural history as well , but we are birders , the name says it all !
the wrybill is monogamous . nesting and feeding territories are usually strongly defended . the mating season starts when the birds return to south i . they are very active , chasing each other in the air and on the ground . if the pair is disturbed during the courtship displays by another bird , the intruder is driven away by the bird of the same sex . it runs after it with outstretched neck among the stones , while maintaining its balance by slightly opening the wings . the female shows great submission to the male once mated . they nest solitary in loose colonies with nests at least 400 metres apart , and never less than 40 metres .
in the wrybill , however , the bill , which is one and a quarter inches long , is bent to the right in the middle , the end being offset at an angle of 12 degrees to the base . this is claimed to be an adaptation to its existence on the shingle river - beds of canterbury , where it nests , the bent bill supposedly enabling it to get its food the more readily from under stones . and no doubt it does this , when the occasion demands , but there can be very few occasions when this peculiarity is of any decided benefit to its possessor , for over nearly all the river - beds on which the bird feeds , the stones are so much buried in sand as to make the bill quite unnecessary . moreover . the bird spends less than half the year on shingle river–beds , living for the remaining months on mud–flats , and sea beaches , where its abnormality can be of no benefit .
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among new zealand’s many bird curiosities , writes edgar stead , the wry - billed plover is often not included , but it certainly ought to be , for it is the only bird in the world which has its bill bent sideways . the crossbills of the northern hemisphere might claim that they share in this distinction , but their bills are symmetrical , the upper mandible being bent one way , and the lower , the other .
it has to be taken into account also , that while the bill , bent as it is to the right , gives the bird some advantage when feeding under stones on its right , this structure is a very distinct disadvantage to the bird when it wishes to feed on its left . a bill with an upwards curve , one would have thought , would have been of greater use .
wrybills are in their full mating plumage when they return south , the black band across the chest being very conspicuous ; the narrow white frontal band , with the brownish band behind it , not showing up at all except at very close range . the whole of the upper parts are blue–grey , but with age the feathers lose a certain amount of their blue tint , and also , particularly in the case of scapulars , become much frayed at the edges . it has been stated by some writers that the black chest band is wider on one side than the other , but this is not the case , either in fact or in appearance .
wrybills nest on high shingle spits , choosing a place where the stones are rather large , and clear of all growths and drift . a mere scratching in the sand , occasionally with a few small pebbles added around its edges , serves as a receptacle for the two eggs , which are wonderfully like the stones among which they are laid .
both birds take their turn at incubation , and sit very close , so that they will often allow a person to pass within twenty yards of them without getting off the eggs . owing to the remarkable similarity of their colouring to that of the surroundings , wrybills are easily passed when they keep still , and nests would certainly remain undetected if the birds did not move . but if the bird does get off the nest , and run towards an intruder ( wrybills do not fly around intruders in the same way that banded dotterel do ) , the latter has only to stand still for a few moments , when the bird will , as a rule , run straight back , and sit on its nest , even though it be in full view , and not fifteen yards away .
laying commences about the middle of september and continues throughout october . i have found eggs in november , but i think it probable that they were second clutches , the first having been destroyed . the young when hatched are thickly covered with down , white on the breast and underparts , the whole of the upper surface being stone grey , faintly marked with smoky black . when they are hatched , and even as an embryo in the egg , they have the bend in the bill well defined . they leave the nest within a day of hatching , and follow their parents about in search of food . by the time the young are full grown , the old birds are moulting into their winter plumage , when they closely resemble the young — having no black chest band , and no frontal bands — and then old and young leave the river–beds . the earliest families have left by the end of december , and all of them have gone by the end of february . sometimes they stay awhile on the coastal lagoons , and i have several times seem them on the shores of lake ellesmere in january and february , but they are the first birds to go north , migrating nearly two months earlier than the main body of dotterel and stilts . they spend the winter on the sea coast of the north island , frequenting the mouths of rivers , and the mud–flats of the big harbours of the far north . so far as my information goes , it would seem they travel up the west coast of the north island in greater numbers than they do up the east .
wrybills always display when their eggs or young are handled , running around with the wing near the intruder trailing on the ground , the other lifted in the air ; the feathers of the rump are raised ; the tail spread fanwise , and depressed so that the tip is almost on the ground ; and the bird all the time makes a continuous purring noise .
it is sincerely to be hoped that this most interesting little bird does survive , for , on its nesting ground , it exhibits in all its stages — adults , eggs and young — the most amazingly perfect protective colouration that there is among new zealand birds .
20 cm . , 55 g . , pale grey upper parts , black bill , legs grey green , white forehead tinged with black in breeding plumage , breeding adult underparts white except for black band across the chest .
the main breeding rivers in the south island are the rakaia , rangitata , waimakariri , and upper waitaki . after breeding the head to the tidal harbours of northland , auckland , and south auckland , the firth of thames .
ibis , 1869 . buller , walter lawry , birds of new zealand , 1888 .
heather , b . , & robertson , h . , field guide to the birds of new zealand , 2000 . stead , edgar f . , life histories of new zealand birds , 1932 .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
turbott , e . g . 1990 . checklist of the birds of new zealand . ornithological society of new zealand , wellington .
20 cm . stocky , pale grey plover , tip of black bill turned to right . ash - grey crown , nape , upperparts . white underparts . black band across upper chest thick in breeding male , thinner in breeding female , sometimes absent in non - breeding birds . black frontal band above white forehead in male , absent in female . juvenile breast - band absent , back feathers tinged with white .
this species is listed as vulnerable because it has a small population , which is undergoing a continuing decline owing to habitat degradation and the impacts of introduced predators .
. it is found on over 26 riverbeds , but is only common on 10 . it winters mainly north of 38°s in the north island . in the last 40 years , population counts have varied between 3 , 000 and 5 , 000 individuals ( sagar
, probably reflecting the difficulty in surveying the species ( j . e . dowding
, which is supported by preliminary results from a long - term demographic study ( j . e . dowding
the population is estimated to number 4 , 500 - 5 , 000 individuals , roughly equating to 3 , 000 - 3 , 300 mature individuals .
analysis of wintering flocks indicates a slow decline over the last 40 years ( veitch and habraken 1999 ) , which is supported by preliminary results from a long - term demographic study ( j . e . dowding
it breeds on braided riverbeds , and frequents sheltered estuaries and coasts over the non - breeding season . nests are built within 250 m of running water , and are usually hollows in bare shingle , lined with more than 100 small pebbles ( marchant and higgins 1993 , j . e . dowding
. it lays two eggs . young usually begin to breed at two or three years of age ( marchant and higgins 1993 )
, the average adult life expectancy is c . 5 . 4 years ( hay 1984 )
. 2012 ) . land intensification in the high country will have similar effects on reducing water flow , as well as increasing the concentration of nutrients in rivers , further encouraging weed growth ( rebergen 2011 ) . the extent of predation by stoats
. the recent illegal introduction of rabbit haemorrhagic disease has resulted in the localised switching of some predators to a diet containing proportionately more birds . predation by kelp gulls
may pose an increasing threat as they become more numerous in association with human activities ( j . e . dowding
. increasing use of riverbeds for recreational purposes and floods are also threats ( marchant and higgins 1993 , a . grant
1999 ) . water quality deterioration and disturbance pose threats at the species ' s wintering grounds in auckland and northland ( rebergen 2011 ) . further threats may include the conversion of coastal habitat for aquaculture , development of wind farms , and the spread of mangroves ( d . melville
. research on the impact of predation and prey - switching is being undertaken . predator control for black stilt
. project river recovery carries out habitat restoration and predator research in the mckenzie basin ( a . grant
. continue to monitor wintering aggregations . control introduced predators and invasive plants at important sites . control the recreational use of riverbeds , perhaps by delimiting areas where humans are excluded . identify and monitor key areas of habitat ( rebergen 2011 ) . increase awareness of river - dwelling birds as part of the current government policy formulation on freshwater resource management ( d . melville
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wrybills are small , pale plovers that are much more approachable than most new zealand waders . their underparts are white , with a black upper breast band from mid - winter to the end of the breeding season . the upper parts and sides of the face are pale grey , and the forehead white . the bill is long and black , with the distal third curved 12 - 26° to the right . the legs are dark grey to black . the sexes are alike in eclipse plumage ; juveniles lack the black breast band . in breeding plumage , males are distinguishable by a black line above the forehead ; this is highly variable however , and difficult to see in some individuals .
voice : the most common call is a ' chip ' that appears to indicate alertness . rapid ' churring ' is used when chasing intruding banded dotterels or other wrybills , and very quiet ' grating ' call used to communicate with chicks . flocks in flight ( and sometimes when milling on the ground ) may indulge in excited high - pitched ' chattering ' .
similar species : wrybills are unlikely to be mistaken for other species in breeding plumage or if the bill is seen well . in eclipse plumage the banded dotterel is superficially similar , but has browner upper parts and short straight bill . confusion is possible with some rare transequatorial migrant waders , notably sanderling and terek sandpiper , but these lack the black breast band , and their bill shapes differ .
wrybills breed only in the south island , east of the main divide . the large majority of the population breeds in canterbury between the waimakariri river in the north , and the rivers of the upper waitaki ( mackenzie ) basin in the south . main strongholds are the rakaia , upper rangitata , and mackenzie basin . four rivers in otago ( hunter , makarora , matukituki , and dart ) and two in north canterbury ( ashley and waiau ) have small populations . wrybills previously bred in marlborough , but their breeding range has contracted southwards over the past 120 years .
from january to july , wrybills are present in harbours of the northern north island , mainly manukau and firth of thames , smaller flocks elsewhere . during migration , small flocks are often seen briefly at south island east coast lakes and estuaries , and flocks may settle at rivermouths in the southwestern north island .
wrybills breed exclusively on braided riverbeds . on their wintering grounds , they feed on inter - tidal mudflats in harbours and estuaries . high - water roosts are usually near foraging areas , commonly on local shellbanks and beaches ; occasionally on pasture . in the upper manukau harbour , birds regularly roost on roofs of large buildings ; occasionally on tarmac at auckland airport . on migration , flocks generally follow coastlines , but are not averse to flying overland . a high proportion of the population passes through lake ellesmere on both migrations .
counts on breeding grounds are impractical – wrybills are highly cryptic and widely dispersed . combined counts from wintering flocks suggest a total population of 5000 - 5500 . counts show high variability ( which obscures trends ) , but the population is thought to be declining slowly .
the main threats faced by wrybills are predation ( by introduced mammals and native birds ) , flooding of nests , and loss or degradation of breeding habitat . threats vary temporally and spatially , and their relative importance overall is unclear . actual and potential threats to habitat include loss to hydro - electric power schemes , abstraction of water for irrigation , weed growth , and disturbance caused by a wide range of recreational and commercial activities . on wintering grounds , predation of adults has been recorded , and some loss of roosting habitat is likely as mangroves encroach . wrybills appear to be prone to collision with man - made objects . occasional significant strikes have occurred at auckland airport , and collisions with fencelines and powerlines have been recorded .
a small proportion of the population is managed through predator control programmes . the largest such area covers the whole tasman river catchment , but benefits are equivocal to date . a few small areas are managed by community groups ( e . g . the lower ashley river ) .
wrybills breed in monogamous dispersed pairs . territories may overlap with those of other species ( e . g . banded dotterel , black - fronted tern , pied stilt ) , but are vigorously defended against other wrybills . the nest is a shallow scrape in the gravel , lined with many small stones . the normal clutch is 2 ; first clutches are laid in september or october . replacement clutches laid after loss may occur through to january . some pairs will double - brood if they are successful early . incubation is shared and is protracted ; accurate data are few , but values from 30 - 36 days recorded . chicks fledge after 35 - 40 days ; chicks are guarded by one or both parents during their first 3 weeks at least , often becoming increasingly independent before fledging .
wrybills usually allow a close approach . when incubating , they rely on camouflage to avoid detection , and flush from the nest very late . distraction displays are used to defend nests ; banded dotterels are aggressively chased if close to eggs or chicks . chicks freeze to escape detection ( especially when small ) , and swim well from a few days old . away from the breeding grounds , wrybills are highly gregarious and form dense flocks , normally also very approachable .
northward migration typically begins in late december , and peaks in january . southward migration is mainly in august and early september ( adults ) , with some first - year birds ( which will not breed ) following in october - november .
on the breeding grounds , wrybills consume a wide range of aquatic invertebrates , but predominantly mayfly and caddisfly larvae . on wintering grounds , a range of small marine and littoral invertebrates are taken ( including annelid and polychaete worms , small molluscs , and insects ) , and the occasional small fish .
dowding , j . e . ; moore , s . j . 2006 . habitat networks of indigenous shorebirds in new zealand . science for conservation 261 . department of conservation , wellington .
heather , b . d . ; robertson , h . a . 2005 . the field guide to the birds of new zealand . 2nd edition . penguin : rosedale , auckland .
marchant , s . ; higgins , p . j . ( eds ) 1993 . handbook of australian , new zealand and antarctic birds . vol . 2 , raptors to lapwings . oxford university press , melbourne .
incubation behaviour shared incubation length ( mean ) 30 - 36 days nestling type precocial nestling period ( mean ) leave nest within 24 hours of hatching of second egg age at fledging ( mean ) 35 - 40 days age at independence ( mean ) 30 - 50 days age at first breeding ( typical ) 2 plus years age at first breeding ( min ) 1 years maximum longevity 22 plus years maximum dispersal migrate annually 700 - 1000km each way .
a relatively small pale plover with a long black bill curving to the right , dark grey to black legs and , in breeding males , a black line above the white forehead . the underparts are white , with a black upper breast band from mid - winter to the end of the breeding season , and the upperparts and sides of the face are pale grey .
the laying season runs between september and october ; a clutch of two eggs is laid into a slight depression amongst the gravel . both parents take it in turn to incubate the eggs that are well camouflaged against the shingle , resembling the stones around them ( 4 ) . the parents also rely on camouflage to remain undetected with their ash - grey plumage barely visible amongst the stones ( 4 ) . the chicks are able to leave their nest within a day of hatching and follow their parents on foraging trips ( 4 ) .
endemic to new zealand , wrybills migrate annually from breeding grounds in canterbury and otago ( on south island ) , to spend the winter in northern areas of north island ( 2 ) .
breeding occurs on rivers where there are large amounts of bare shingle . the wintering sites to the north tend to consist of mudflats at the mouths of large rivers ( 4 ) .
classified as vulnerable ( vu ) on the iucn red list 2006 ( 1 ) .
large flocks of wrybills were recorded in the early 19th century but the species has since undergone a long - term decline , principally as a result of habitat loss at breeding sites ( 2 ) . the shingle beds that comprise the nesting habitat of this species have decreased in size due to the encroachment of weeds , and altered river flooding regimes caused by hydroelectric schemes ( 2 ) . it is also likely that predation by introduced stoats ( mustela erminea ) and cats has played a large part in the decline of this ground - nesting bird ( 2 ) .
this information is awaiting authentication by a species expert , and will be updated as soon as possible . if you are able to help please contact : arkive @ urltoken
endemic a species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area . invertebrates animals with no backbone . larvae stage in an animal’s lifecycle after it hatches from the egg . larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults ; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce .
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we also try and see as many marine mammal species as possible on our tours , with the tiny hector ' s dolphin highly likely to be seen .
for our pelagics we use small charter boats that are specifically certified for taking passengers . the operators we are use are people we know and trust and provide the best pelagic experienced based on working with us over many years .
the new zealand breeding endemic black ( parkinson ' s ) petrel is generally seen on several of the north island pelagics .
near okarito we will spend an evening in search of the rarest of the kiwi species - the okarito brown kiwi . we have a chance of seeing four species , plus great - spotted kiwi which is unlikely to be seen , but generally heard .
the new zealand forest can be extremely beautiful , but with all this moss in a south island nothofagus beech forest it means there can sometimes be rain .
although not specifically a photographic tour , our 21 - day birding tours allow excellent photographic opportunities .
we target three species of penguin during the tour , with the largest being the yellow - eyed penguin . we generally find this bird both at sea and near its breeding sites on land .
small group sizes and relaxed travel times generally allow us to stop and make the most of birding locations we are enjoying .
a courting pair of dusky dolphins ( lagenorhynchus obscurus ) leap from the water . kaikoura , canterbury , new zealand .
as large as the wandering albatross , the southern royal albatross is likely to be seen on at least a couple of our pelagic opportunities .
the ancient looking takahe is a flightless endemic rail , considered extinct for almost 50 years , and now found on several predator free offshore islands .
the south island is renowned for its spectacular scenery , and rightly so . this is franz josef glacier on the west coast of the south island and a place we stay near and stop at .
one of the worlds rarest shorebirds , the black stilt , is a key endemic we aim to see .
we use clean and tidy accomodation around the country . some such as this spot we use on our first night are in beautiful scenic locations and birding around the accomodations can often be good .
a male south island wren ( xenicus gilviventris ) perched on a rock in its alpine habitat . homer tunnel , fiordland national park , new zealand . january .
buller ' s albatross is surely one of the most beautiful of the albatrosses , and one on our target list .
the south island is renowned for its spectacular scenery , and rightly so , with this being part of the road through to the famous milford sound , which we visit if time allows .
the endemic blue duck can be difficult to find , but we visit the best location ( and several others ) for this species in the north island , and also try to find it in the south island .
southern brown kiwi ( apteryx australis ) feeding for crustaceans on a sandy beach . no flash used , just dim flashlight . ocean beach , stewart island , new zealand .
new zealand dotterel ( charadrius obscurus ) , sometimes known as red - breasted plover , feeding on the shoreline . waipu estuary , northland , new zealand .
the south island is renowned for its spectacular scenery , and rightly so , with views like this of mount cook ( nzs highest peak ) sometimes being possible .
it is not only about birding , but having a great time as well .
the alpine kea makes for a strange parrot , but will be seen in several places on the south island . an incredibly curious bird they provide much entertainment .
north island kokako ( callaeas wilsoni ) feeding on leaves in the sub - canopy . tiritiri matangi island , auckland , new zealand .
we generally grab lunch from a cafe or bakery as we travel , and then enjoy it in a place where we will maximise our birding or scenic opportunities .
we generally grab lunch from a cafe or bakery as we tarvel , and then enjoy it in a place where we will maximise our birding or scenic opportunities .
the largest flying bird in the world , the wandering albatross , can be seen almost at arms length off kaikoura and possibly also during our other pelagic opportunities .
adult male yellowhead ( mohoua ochrocephala ) peering into moss whilst foraging . haast pass , west coast , new zealand . january . endangered .
a cook ' s petrel ( pterodroma cookii ) in flight , showing the underwing pattern . hauraki gulf , auckland , new zealand .
generally we dine at cafes and resturants , choosing from the normal menu , however on some nights we take the opportunity to get a little more personal , with catered meals providing an introduction to real kiwi food .
new zealand falcon is our only endemic diurnal raptor , and we have excellent opportunities to see this species both in the north and south islands .
the white - capped albatross , one of the larger ' small ' abatrosses is frequently very common during our stewart island pelagic .
our pelagic out of kaikoura offers unrivalled close views of several species of albatross and other tube - nosed seabirds - not to be missed .
buller ' s shearwater is a new zealand endemic breeder , and will be seen commonly during several of our north island pelagics .
pelagic birding trips are just one of our specialties , with unrivalled knowledge within new zealand . our rediscovery of the supposedly extinct new zealand storm - petrel in 2003 , as we were just starting to operate our business , was an amazing sign that we were really doing the right thing . however , we also know our land - birds just as well and know you will enjoy your new zealand birding experience with us !
so here we are…… . sav saville and brent stephenson , and recently due to being so popular , and restricting our group sizes to just 8 people , we have had to enlist the help of three other great new zealand birders – phil hammond , matt jones , and neil robertson . the decision to hire other guides was not one we took lightly , but as their clients have told us , they are excellent and fit well within our team ! our list of services can be found here , with anything from pre - trip planning advice , to a full north and south island organised tour ( including stewart island ) , and anything in between . as sav , brent , phil , matt , and neil live in different parts of the country , we are also able to offer guided trips around our ‘neck - of - the - woods’ for one or more days , and make custom itineraries . trip reports from our pelagics , personal birding trips , and guided trips can be found here . if you are visiting new zealand , then email us to let us know how we can help .
we must be doing something right if pelagic experts and overseas field leaders think we do a good job ! check out endorsements from world class seabirders here and see our testimonials page here .
we only operate in new zealand , choosing to run tours on our home turf where we know things best . that doesn’t mean we don’t travel and bird overseas though !
our 21 - day tours are only run by birders we know and trust ! sav & brent have been running tours by themselves since 2002 , but have now enlisted the help of phil hammond , matt jones , and neil robertson . both phil , matt , and neil are excellent guides and birders and we have no hesitation bringing them both onboard as guides .
d’s conservation estate . this means some of your fee goes towards ensuring the conservation of the birds you will see . we also hold concessions for many of the
we love getting out and about birding , we are birders through and through – we even go birding on the weekend ! but , we are also keen on plants , invertebrates , and other new zealand wildlife . so a tour with us is not just hardcore birding , we take time to see the country and other things of interest during our 21 - day tours .
plus we love showing new zealand and its fantastic birds to overseas birders ! read client testimonials here .
we are pleased to announce that we will again be at the british birdwatching fair in 2018 ! we will be sharing a stand with our good friends from albatross encounter - marquee 2 , stands 46 & 47 . so come and see both brent and sav there during the weekend of 17 - 19 . . .
well our last places are filling on this upcoming seasons tours - 2018 - 2019 summer . we have just just three places left in five 21 - day tours confirmed in late 2018 , and just a couple of places left in the three confirmed tours in early 2019 . there have been recent . . .
well it is the start of the new year - happy 2018 every one ! we are gearing up for our early 2018 21 - day tours which kick off in a week or so . looking forward to some excellent birding . we have also just added dates for our pelagics in warkworth ( into the hauraki . . .
well our tours in november and december 2017 went really well , with both tours run getting almost all of the ' gettable ' endemics . low numbers of the less common arctic shorebirds accounted for lower numbers than usual on these tours , but these really are additional . . .
sav will be attending the american birding expo , which is being held this weekend - 29 september to 1 october 2017 , in philadelphia . it is being held at the greater philadelphia expo centre , and sav will be around all weekend . so if you are in the area and wanting . . .
wrybills are classified as a threatened species due to their low and declining numbers .
birds on braided rivers have evolved to feed in distinct ways . specialisation minimises competition for food between the bird species .
wrybills feed in shallow channels , riffles and the edges of pools . their bent bill is specially adapted to allow them to reach under stones for mayfly larvae .
when food is scarce , they move into stableside channels and pond areas to find food . in winter , wrybills migrate to north island harbours and feed in flocks on the mudflats .
each pair of wrybills , stilts , dotterels and oystercatchers defends a territory and nests alone . the chicks are active soon after hatching , following the parents as they forage for food . within hours , newly - hatched chicks can hunt for food and swim if necessary .
breeding on a riverbed is a risky business . many eggs and chicks do not survive . riverbed birds have adapted to cope with floods and are able to renest if eggs or chicks are lost .
birds with good nesting sites are more likely to raise chicks successfully . the best nest sites have :
swamp harriers / kāhu and black - backed gulls / karoro are natural predators of braided river birds . these avian predators have taken advantage of changes made by humans and their numbers have increased dramatically .
braided river birds have good camouflage and use distraction to cope with avian predators . wrybills , oystercatchers and dotterels often pretend to have a broken wing to lead predators away . terns , gulls and oystercatchers may dive - bomb and call loudly .
however these defences against avian predators are little use against introduced predators such as cats , stoats , ferrets , rats and hedgehogs . these are the main threats .
ensuring the survival of the birds ' natural open habitat is important in combating predation .
the fragile ecology of the braided river system is being destroyed by the invasion of weeds .
human activity including land development and recreational activities disturb nesting birds . birds may abandon their nests if disturbed .
call 0800 doc hot ( 0800 362 468 ) immediately if you see anyone catching , harming or killing native wildlife .
only take dogs to areas that allow them , and keep them under control .
don ' t drive on riverbeds , or keep to formed tracks if you have to .
braided rivers are important features of the upper waitaki basin . their distinctive wildlife and plant communities make them unique worldwide .
recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : anarhynchus frontalis . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 . recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species : birdlife international ( 2018 ) iucn red list for birds . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 .
the male has a white forehead and pale grey crown , nape , back , wings and tail and a white throat , breast , belly and rump , with a thin black band across the breast . this band is thinner in the female , and much less distinct in both sexes in the non - breeding season . males have a small black bar between the white forehead and the grey crown . as with the breast band , this is reduced in the non - breeding season .
their eggs are blue - grey and lightly speckled , making them well camouflaged against river stones and pebbles , which generally make up the main structure of a very simple nest .
hbw alive contains information on descriptive notes , voice , habitat , food and feeding , breeding , movements , status and conservation plus a list of bibliographical references for this species account .
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a bird walking slowly to detect prey , catching a worm , cleaning and eating it .
a bird looking for food , catching a worm , cleaning it on water and swallowing it .
josep del hoyo , doug and denise norris , pieter de groot boersma , greg baker , nick talbot , mkennewell , mauriravasini , brooke clibbon .
nick talbot , glenda rees , pluvius , josep del hoyo , greg baker , georges olioso , marco valentini , rick and elis simpson , rémi bigonneau , alex berryman , frédéric pelsy , ken havard , tomas grim , martin främke .
new zealand : breeds in c south i ( canterbury and otago riverbeds ) ; winters mainly in n north i .
20–21 cm ; 43–68 g . rather plump , greyish plover with conspicuous long bill curved to the right ; male has black frontal bar and breastband . female has duller , . . .
breeds inland on large braided rivers , occupying large bare beds of shingle and sand , with . . .
during breeding season takes aquatic invertebrates , including flatworms , annelids , gastropods , mites , spiders , and eggs , larvae , pupae and . . .
lays late aug to late oct , with second clutch late oct to late dec . monogamous on long - term basis . solitary ; holds vigorously defended . . .
migratory . moves from breeding grounds in c south i to mudflats of estuaries and harbours on n end . . .
vulnerable . hunted prior to 1940 ; after hunting ceased , population increased , but stabilized by early 1960s , with c . 5000 birds . in 1994 , total of 5111 birds counted , with c . . .