<< Previous Next >>

New Zealand Kea


New Zealand Kea
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3815 W: 505 N: 8095] (27712)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-10
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Tamron 28-300XR, Hoya UV 62mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-05-05 3:46
Viewed: 1407
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
New Zealand Kea (Nestor notabilis)

The Kea is an endemic parrot of the South Island's high country. Although kea are seen in reasonable numbers throughout the South Island, the size of the wild population is unknown - but is estimated at between 1,000 and 5,000 birds.

To survive in the harsh alpine environment kea have become inquisitive and nomadic social birds - characteristics which help kea to find and utilise new food sources. Their inquisitive natures often cause kea to congregate around novel objects and their strong beaks have enormous manipulative power.

Kea are a protected species.

Kea grow up to 50 cm long and although mostly vegetarian, also enjoy grubs and insects.

The kea is related to the forest kaka (Nestor meridionalis) and is thought to have developed its own special characteristics during the last great ice age by using its unusual powers of curiosity in its search for food in a harsh landscape.

Nests are usually found among boulders in high altitude forest where the birds lay between two and four eggs during the breeding season from July and January.

Kea is rated as one of the most intelligent birds in the world.

The above obtained from Dept of Conservation NZ

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 1:34 p.m.
Date: 10th April 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Tamron 28-300mm XR
Filter: Hoya 62mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/30
F-Stop: F/5.6
Focal Length: 135mm
ISO: 400
sAner, TAZ, fungiman, Fisher, thistle, Signal-Womb, liquidsunshine, hummingbird24, Comandante, zenitlady, Luc, Callie, vizion has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To fungiman: Backgroundcoasties 1 05-05 05:58
To sAner: Keacoasties 2 05-05 05:05
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-05-05 4:00]
  • [+]

Hey there Pam.

Kea's a are nasty little birds. I've captured one when was in NZ HERE. They're really beautiful though. The details on the feathers in your photo is really stunning! Colors are amazing and I like your POV & DOF. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • Sneza Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 94 W: 30 N: 16] (672)
  • [2005-05-05 4:14]

This is very nice caption of kea.
Very good sharpness and details.
I like tones and details on feathers.
Good POV and DOF.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-05-05 4:43]

Beau et intéressant portrait bien composé pour ce magnifique oiseau au plumage étonnant. Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
Very Well Done !.

Interesting POV the eathers look like staind glass window :) Good colours but that back ground does not look very alpine like?

The notorious rubber wrecker of cars. LOL
Excelent shot and well done on the composition and details. Hope your car is still in good shape.

Mike

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 755 W: 31 N: 20] (5032)
  • [2005-05-05 10:35]

Excellent portrait. Very good shot. Here all is ok. Well done.
Regards,
Aleksander

I've seen movie about these birds and they seems to be rather "small rascals" than cute parrots, though they look so innocent. I know that they can make some serious damages during their searchings.
Anyway, I like them very much.
The photo is very good, the colours are great and so is the POV.
Well done

I don't like that branch crossing the left hand corner but I love bird, in particular I like the way his pens seems to go all directions, well done Pam.

Nice shot Pam,
Very clear sharp detail, good colours and well composed.
I remember Pieters post of this bird, you've got the calm variety!
Thanks for posting

Great photo, Pam. He has wonderful plumage and color doesn't he? I have heard that these Keas can be a little mean spirited.
Very well captured, thank you for sharing him with us.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2005-05-05 22:56]

Nice portait,with fine details.Good compposition.

Hello Pam!
Wonderful shot.Details are amazing.Superb composition.Thanks for sharing.

Nice composition Pam, it could have been better to frane it a little more on the left.
Good etails.
Well done.
TFS.

Hello Pam! So, this is the Kea! I have read about them over the years. That beak does look formidable, doesn't it? See, what you have taught me--get at it's level if you can, has made for a beautiful composition! Lovely capture of the hues of green and blue and great clarity. Well done!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-05-07 16:37]

Personal assessment of the photo: more than great.
Strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: great.
Thank you very much Pam.

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-05-10 7:11]

Hello Pam!
Excellent portrait, i like the composition the vivid colours & great sharpness, dof & pov are excellent, you did a great work !

Regards,
Christian

never seen this bird before, not even photographs! TFS!
great colors and looks like a painting by a maestro!

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1132 W: 105 N: 2609] (7531)
  • [2005-05-17 13:51]

Hi Pam
A super shot of a super bird - I see you know they rank tops on brains - seconds vs several minutes for chimps to solve the same problem, if I remember correctly. Great details on his plumage and that "finger-bill" is presented very well - FTS

Lovely shot! I can just see him pulling a vehicle apart screeching (pirate parrot styleee) "pieces of car, pieces of car, skraarrrrk" ;) A truly fascinating bird, I watched them systematically ruining some movie shoot near Milford Sound - the film crew had marked the camera tracks with insulating tape to show where to stop - and whilst the crew were away the mischevous Keas were out re-arranging the stops - I've always wondered whether the crew ever worked out what had happened to their filming! It's a good thing they blend into the background so well, otherwise I suspect they'd have been made extinct long ago ;) Not much to criticise here, not sure whether the focus is quite on the eye, or whether it's on the plumage just in front of it - but I could well be imagining that, it's very hard to tell at this size. Excellent work :-D

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF