Three hundred school children waving their arms around and squawking like seabirds is an impressive (and noisy) sight! That’s just what happens when Hiwi the Kiwi visits primary schools around New Zealand to teach children about protecting seabirds and our marine environment.
The “Hiwi the Kiwi Goes Fishing” show by Mark and Chrissy de Lacy tours New Zealand, teaching school kids (and their parents) about fishing kai moana sustainably. They also learn about staying safe in the water and making sure seabirds don’t get hooked on their fishing lines or nets.
Forest & Bird and Southern Seabird Solutions asked Mark to write a song about our seabird taonga as part of the Off the Hook campaign to teach people about keeping seabirds safe when they’re out fishing.
The catchy lyrics talk about how you can do this, by sinking baits quickly, keeping the boat clean and frightening birds away using a bucket of water. Who knew protecting seabirds could be so fun?
Watch this video by Mark and Chrissy and use the lyrics below to sing along at home!
VERSE 1
Why do seabirds suddenly appear
Wherever there’s a fishing boat – and fishing gear
I bet it’s coz they’re hungry and looking for a feed
They reckon that fish bait’s exactly what they need
From high in the sky they dive into the tide
But birds haven’t heard there’s a hook inside
We gotta make our baits sink quick like a brick
If the birds cant reach them give yourself a tick
CHORUS
If a seabird dies I can get quite cross
I wanna catch a Snapper not an Albatross
Keep the boat tidy keep the boat clean
No baits in sight if you see what I mean
If birds hang around then I tell you that we oughta
Scare them away with a bucketful of water
We’re gonna send fishermen an SOS
Save our seabirds they’re in distress
We can have lotsa fun teaching everyone
You can feel real good if you save just one
If a seabird dies then we’ll get real cross
Coz we wanna catch a Snapper not an Albatross
VERSE 2
Why do seabirds wanna eat plastic
They don’t realise the result will be drastic
I bet its coz they’re hungry and looking for a feed
They reckon that plastic’s exactly what they need
From high in the sky they’ll dive into the tide
But they’ll die not fly with that stuff inside
Kids tell your Dads you’ve come up with a notion
Pick up any rubbish you see floating in the ocean
Repeat Chorus
Repeat Verse 1
Repeat Chorus
