The sun has nearly set and people, animals and birds begin to settle down to sleep.

Not all birds sleep at night however. Ruru is just waking up after sleeping all day. He stretches his wings out ready for a night of hunting and calls out into the falling night.

More-pork!  More-pork!

Someone hears his call, and a child’s face appears in a window. She cannot see what made the familiar sound, until two round eyes shine in the night. The bird that makes the call that sounds like he is saying more pork, is the last native owl in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s Māori name is Ruru.

This Ruru must get moving, looking for his prey. It could be mice, rats, wetas, moths, or even small birds or fish. He has new chicks to feed, and his mate is looking after them in the nest.

New chicks are hungry and need a lot of food, so Ruru is busy all night finding their dinner.

But other animals are nocturnal hunters too, and he must look out for them. Possums and stoats can raid nests, eat eggs or attack young chicks. They too are hungry and can eat similar food, directly in competition with hungry Ruru.

Cats prowl the darkness, and any vehicle’s bright lights can confuse Ruru as he hunts for moths. Ruru finally gets to settle on a branch near his mate and chicks and close his eyes, just as the world around him are opening theirs.

A beautifully illustrated story of a Ruru’s night, complimented with non-fiction boxes of interesting facts. Did you know they have special wings to help them be silent as they swoop on their prey?

With a Background section with more interesting info on the Ruru, including cultural significance, and extra facts, Ruru, Night Hunter is just as suitable for a bed time read as a resource for a class project.

With Ruru calling out each night around my own home, Ruru, Night Hunter is something special personally. When I hear them again, I will know more about them and their very busy night time lives.

Author – Katie Furze

Illustrator – Ned Barraud

Picture Book – Non-Fiction

Publisher – Scholastic NZ

(2024, Scholastic NZ, Non Fiction, Ruru, Morepork, NZ Native Bird, Aotearoa New Zealand, Chicks, Bird Calls, Predators, Hunting, Cultural significance, Māori, Territorial)