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Foraging Kea


Foraging Kea
Photo Information
Copyright: Steve Reekie (LordPotty) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1171 W: 145 N: 2708] (8374)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): zoologist's other favorites, Birds of New Zealand [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-12 5:07
Viewed: 594
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kea
Nestor notabilis

Here we see a Kea foraging for one of its favourite foods.
The bush is one of the fine Coprosmas so common all over New Zealand, probably Coprosma propinqua, and the Kea is after the little blue berries that cover it.
Kea are omnivorous, and will eat anything from berries, nectar and roots, to insects, rats and even old boots and candles.
It is partly for this reason that signs in tourist locations say 'Do Not Feed The Kea'
People will feed them all kinds of junk, which is ultimately not healthy for them. It also encourages them into the parking areas, where they cause untold damage to vehicles, tearing rubber seals from windscreens and doors, and removing windscreen wipers.

I must confess, we did feed the Kea this day ... but only on the tangy bluish white berries of Prickly Mingimingi, a plant very similar in appearance to Manuka, the New Zealand Ti Tree.
Mingimingi berries, which have a eucalyptus/turpentine flavour, are a favourite natural food of Kea, and they quite happily ate them straight from the palm of our hands.

Hope you like this shot.
Cheers, Steve
SelenE, deblink, blakitan, Kathleen, JORAPAVI, haraprasan, gracious, rousettus has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2339 W: 59 N: 3778] (12122)
  • [2007-06-12 5:12]

Hi Steve,
They eat boots and candles too ? :o))) The composition is very nice with the natural environment. I liked the matching color tones a lot. TFS
Selen

Hi Steve,
This bird blends in so well with the surrounding vegetation, its colours are lovely as is your image of it. I have seen Crows on television that can do the same damage to vehicles.
Cheers,
Debbie

Hi Steve,
Excellent shot,
great sharpness, details of the feathers are clearly visible.

BL

Hi Steve, very green picture! Nice details and (green) colours. Might have been improved if the bird was looking just a little more towards you to catch the eye a little better.

Very nice natural looking shot of this Kea Steve. The detail and colour of those feathers is excellent. Excellent camouflage yet you've highlighted him very well against his surroundings.

Thanks, John

Hi Steve.
Great environmental image. Detail and all the greens are perfect, he blends in so well. Great notes as always with an image to go with it.

Kathleen
New Zealand

Hola Steve,
Precioso ejemplar, me gusta la composición en su hábitat, la definición y texturas son excelentes, Saludos
José Ramón

Hi Steve,
This is a beautiful capture of the bird. The details and colors are great. Excellent POV and nice Composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1202 W: 68 N: 2477] (8179)
  • [2007-06-12 14:58]

Hello Steve,
Lovely colours with the Kea in his natural surroundings. Very sharp, good POV and composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Steve,
great POV with good composition of clarity, awesome colour and details
very well done indeed
cheers
Tony

Hi Steve,
what a nice collecton of green tones. Great capture. composition very well. colors and details so nice. thanks.
best wishes
Ahmet

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