Feathered Friends

There are no native mammals in New Zealand, though sadly a number of introduced species (possums, stoats, rats, etc.) have been wreaking havoc in the forests and killing birds and eating their eggs. Still, big efforts are being made to control their populations and they are mostly nocturnal. You rarely see mammals in the day. But there are lots of wonderful and unique birds. Here are some of the pictures we have taken with a little insight into our view of them (anthropomorphasized of course). A number of these pictures were taken on a wonderful day in which we rented kayaks and headed out into the Okorito Swamp, the largest coastal estuary in New Zealand on the west coast of the South Island. It was a spectacular day with the Southern Alps in the background. We wandered from the outlet through the mud flats and up into the rainforest.

Tui: “I am New Zealand!”

Wherever and whenever I hear the Tui (the bizarre and beautiful series of calls that sound like a happy creaky rusty iron gate closing), I will think of New Zealand. A friendly, beautiful bird that flits about sucking nectar from flowering trees (this is the one web picture as despite seeing lots of Tuis, we have no good photo of one. Everything else below is one of our photos.)

Spoonbills: Dressed to Kill

Watching spoonbills siphon mud through their bills is like watching the avian version of a guy on a beach with a metal detector searching for spare change.

Kototuku (White Heron): The Predator

Sleek, quick and flexible, fish do not stand a chance.

Kea (Mountain Parrot): Major Mischief— the Smart Aleck

Reputedly the smartest bird in the world and smarter than a monkey. When bored, likes to amuse oneself by breaking into cars, destroying rubber objects such as windshield wipers, stealing shiny objects (sunglasses), etc. Very personable and approachable but don’t be fooled!

Torea (Pied Oyster Catcher): The Temperamental Comic

It always takes two to tangle and they are not low key (they hang out in pairs). They will send you a laughable call one moment and “call you out” the next one if you do not get with the plan or get to close.

Red Billed Gull: The Thief

Prettier than some of their cousins, but no less skilled when it comes to food theft.

Parekareka (Spotted Shag): The Sensitive Stylist

They won’t let you close and they show off numbers of elegant positions as they perch and dry their wings.

Kereru (New Zealand Pigeon): Royalty

They love to perch high above you with royal elegance and colours.

Weka: The Rascal

On first blush they resemble a duck, but then they seem like a wild chicken. Oh my, the lengths they will go to as they try and sneak some food from your pot. Persistent, but not the sharpest tack in the pile.

Birds of the Field:

There are lots of little ones flitting about, mostly worried that you could be a threat.

The Moa: Lost and Found

The amazing flightless bird that ruled the land until the Maori wiped them out for food several hundred years ago before the Europeans arrived. We found these in a sculpture garden.