Those are everywhere here, but then, so is the fantail (http://www.flickr.com/search/?s=int&q=fantail+zealand&m=text).
The difference is the fantail insists on being friendly and likes to come and fly around your head, land near you and so on, hence the number of photos of it on flickr. A bird that comes to the birdwatcher!
Well, compared to the kakapo (http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Animals/001~Native-Animals/Kakapo.asp). Which doesn't squeek, squark, chirp, cheep or any variations of those. No, the kakapo booms!
New Zealand is a unique place for birds, as before man arrived, the only mammals here were a couple of very small bats and sea-mammals like seals and such. So this really was the kingdom of the birds - and they got quite big (http://www.giantflightlessbirds.com/moa/gallery.html).
These are very common and about as big as a chook, and often seen by the side of the road. I've been trying to get decent photos and films of both them and fantails, but not with any luck yet. And Flickr kind of makes the job a bit redundant...
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-29 06:05 am (UTC)Those are everywhere here, but then, so is the fantail (http://www.flickr.com/search/?s=int&q=fantail+zealand&m=text).
The difference is the fantail insists on being friendly and likes to come and fly around your head, land near you and so on, hence the number of photos of it on flickr. A bird that comes to the birdwatcher!
They're both a little smaller than a sparrow.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-29 12:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-30 04:23 am (UTC)Well, compared to the kakapo (http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Animals/001~Native-Animals/Kakapo.asp). Which doesn't squeek, squark, chirp, cheep or any variations of those. No, the kakapo booms!
New Zealand is a unique place for birds, as before man arrived, the only mammals here were a couple of very small bats and sea-mammals like seals and such. So this really was the kingdom of the birds - and they got quite big (http://www.giantflightlessbirds.com/moa/gallery.html).
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-05 09:11 am (UTC)http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Pukeko&m=text
These are very common and about as big as a chook, and often seen by the side of the road. I've been trying to get decent photos and films of both them and fantails, but not with any luck yet. And Flickr kind of makes the job a bit redundant...
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-05 09:26 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-05 10:32 am (UTC)But, (off topic), please note my latest post. I can do cold too!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-05 10:34 am (UTC)