Today we have photos from New Zealand taken by reader Todd: birds, landscapes, and even a tuatara. His captions are indented and you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.
Here are a few photos from a trip I took earlier this year to New Zealand. It’s a very beautiful country with many unique species of birds (many of which seem to have evolved a spherical body plan).
As you will see from the descriptions I (sadly) have no formal biology training, but I’ll do my best.
This is a tomtit (Petroica macrocephala). I put it at about a 5 out of 5 on the roundness scale:
These are one of my favorite New Zealand birds (despite being only moderately round) … New Zealand fantails (Rhipidura fuliginosa). They flit around in the manner of butterflies using their tails as air brakes all the while emitting squeaks that sound like someone squeezing a dog toy. The second bird looks angry, but it’s just squeaking:
These potato-shaped birds are Wekas (Gallirallus australis). They can’t fly so they stomp around like they mean business instead. They seem to have no innate fear, which might explain their status as a vulnerable species:
Red-Billed Gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae scopulinus) on the coast. I’ve included it because I thought the picture was pretty:
The Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) is an introduced species, which probably explains its utter lack of sphericality:
These beautiful parrots are Kākās (Nestor meridionalis). They were photographed at Zealandia an enclosed eco-sanctuary near Wellington (there’s a perimeter fence to keep out the possums, weasels and cats). They are wild birds, but are attracted to the sanctuary thanks to feeders:
I think this is a North Island Robin (Petroica longipes). This tiny orb landed next to me and I was lucky to get its photo before it took off again:
Not the best picture, but I’m pretty sure this is a New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura). I’ll bet it was named before Star Wars came out because its call sounds exactly like the sounds made by R2D2 and not like a bell at all:
I was stopped by the side of the road taking photos of the scenery, when I heard a ‘thunk’ and turned around to find a Kea (Nestor notabilis) on the roof of my Kia. I was initially thrilled, but like a bad house guest who overstays their welcome it soon became clear its true intent was to strip the rental car for parts it could fence on the black market. The Kea is universally described as “mischievous”, but I think people are just trying to be polite:
Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) – This reptile looks like a tiny dinosaur, and for good reason … it’s the sole surviving member of a group of ancient reptiles that lived alongside dinosaurs:
A lagniappe, the most famous shrub in all of New Zealand: The Wanaka Tree. The setting shows off the beauty of this wonderful country:
Woah, what a treat!
Yes indeed, that photo with gulls is breathtaking!
Looks like Kaikoura.
I agree! Also, I bet those rock layers (ancient fossil reefs?) are a geologist’s wet dream.
So this has some rather special moments. A Kia on a Kia?! And then the Tuatara. Once a diverse and significant group of reptiles, adjacent to but separate from lizards and snakes, now they are but one species!
Great photos. Thanks!
Beautiful photos – thanks!
Beautiful! The parrots are so striking, as is the tuatara.
Beautiful photos!
🦜🦜🦜
Your pictures remind me of the absolute loveliness of that country. Your comments are subtly hilarious and much enjoyed. I think your spherical rotundness scale is an important biological concept.
I suppose that if these spherical birds were in a vacuum, then a physicist could tell us something about them.
Lovely bunch of photos. The tuatara is particularly gratifying.
Fantastic pics, thank you!
Living in NZ as a kid I never saw any of these birds, sadly. Except the obligatory
kiwis at the zoo darkened kiwi enclosure: “Is that one?” “No, a gumboot.”
“There?” “No David, moron, it is a rock.” “sorry Mum”….
Good times..
The keas are like small Godzillas – they’re epic, Original Gangsta birds. And cruel, they pluck out the eyes of sheep – of all horrors. (could be a rumor but fits with the profile…).
Have you considered a weta series? (Little Barrier trip!)
D.A.
NYC (fmr AKL)
It’s virtually impossible to get onto Little Barrier. You need a govt issued conservation or research permit. I have a friend who works in such a role who’s been over, and I’ve been trying to weasel one via her. That said, you dont have to go there to see weta. You can see Little Barrier Giant Weta on Tiri Tiri Matangi, as they’ve been introduced. I’ve seen a few there without much difficulty – including a truly massive female.
We get tree and cave weta out where we are, in the Waitaks, all the time.
Nice photos, thanks! I love NZ!