BNSullivan.jpg "Weka (Gallirallus australis)")
Weka (Gallirallus australis)
Location: Punakaiki, South Island, New Zealand
This the Weka (Gallirallus australis), a flightless bird native to New Zealand. We saw it at a picnic area where we stopped to eat our lunch, near Punakaiki, on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island. We had never seen one before, and at first I thought it might be a kiwi. Fortunately a nearby visitor center had a chart identifying all the local birds, and we learned this was a Weka, also called a Woodhen.
It appeared that this individual hung out regularly at the picnic area where we saw it, looking for handouts. It was not very shy. It would come to within a meter of any humans who looked like they might have some food. I thought this one was quite a nice looking bird.
4 comments:
Very interesting. With a comb on it's head it would look just like one of my chickens.
Hi Becky - I think you're right. They are about the size of a chicken, too!
Bobbie
I can't get over the feet. I've got a shot of some kind of duck or goose I'll post later and it's feet are ... they're just something else. Sorry, got off on a foot tangent. Nice shot. :-D
I think all the birds in NZ are very friendly. I was at Lake Taipo in North Island recently, and the wild ducks just came over to me asking for handouts. Such lovely creatures! I believe it was the Mallard.
I love to see your entries on birds. It excites me every time I see them. They are real beauties, isnt it?
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