Te Papa’s curator of terrestrial vertebrates Dr Colin Miskelly
is researching the life and work of the Canterbury naturalist
Edgar Stead (1881-1949). This includes re-taking Stead’s photos
from the same photo-point, taking other images to illustrate his
diaries, and describing how the ecology and wildlife of each of
10 islands has changed since Stead’s visits. The second
muttonbird island that Edgar Stead and companions stayed on was
Solomon Island (Rerewhakaupoko), just north of Big South Cape
Island (Taukihepa), off the south-west coast of Stewart Island.
Stead landed on Solomon Island for a few hours the day after
leaving Kundy Island in December 1929, discovering saddlebacks
and bush wrens to be present, among other wildlife treasures. He
resolved to return to make more detailed studies. After making
enquiries through John Morrison of Bluff, Stead was granted
permission by William Leader to stay in his muttonbirding hut at
Bats Cave landing on the south coast of Solomon Island. Stead
and his companions Ma