A Mount Maunganui resident woke to a nice surprise this morning when he found a Kea sitting in his Camelia Hedge.
Mike Kuipers von Laude says the bird then flew down into the Bayfair Reserve, where it took refuge in a tree while being dive bombed by a pair of magpies.
Kea in Mount Maunganui resident Mike Kuipers von Lande's garden this morning. Photos: Supplied.
'(It) didn't seem to worry it too much and the magpies eventually gave up.
'As I have never seen or heard of Kea in this part of the country I phoned DOC but this is apparently quite normal.”
9 comments
cool
Posted on 01-04-2012 09:50 | By Capt_Kaveman
im in bayfair area and there is a or some tui that i can hear from time to time but havnt seen the kea yet and as for magpies think nz should have an annual shoot against them
Smart birds
Posted on 01-04-2012 10:22 | By Pixc
Have you tried shooting magpies? They are one smart bird! You get the first one, then the others know to keep out of range. Its awesome to see Kea making a come back :)
April Fools Joke?
Posted on 01-04-2012 11:55 | By chimerajack
Is this just coincidence that it's the 1st of April?
untitled
Posted on 01-04-2012 12:31 | By traceybjammet
great news yippppeeeeeeeee for native birds lets plant plenty of native trees for them
keas are quite common
Posted on 01-04-2012 12:38 | By tmc
now in the Te Puna and Whakamarama area. Great to see they are making their way to more populated areas.
hahaha funny
Posted on 01-04-2012 14:42 | By 123456789
Really a Kea, come one pull the other one. its a Kaka, Kea are south island alpine not north island beach goers
Waihi Beach
Posted on 01-04-2012 16:12 | By waihibeach
I have observed what I thought to be a Kea at Waihi Beach. It was a greyish colour as opposed to the green of a Kea. After further investigation I ascertained that it was a Kaka, of the same family as the Kea. There is a breeding programme for Kaka on Mayor Island and they have likely migrated. As much as i would like to think it was a Kea, possibly this is a more likely explanation
You're right
Posted on 02-04-2012 06:47 | By tmc
It is a kaka. Kea's are green and the Kaka is brown with the red tinge underbelly. beautiful in flight as you see the red under the wings. They love the cones on a kauri tree
Most definitely green
Posted on 04-04-2012 12:16 | By Mike Kuipers von Lande
I am the person who saw/sent in thsi story and to those who say it is a Kaka, this bird was very definitely green, not grey. The photos may not show this. I have seen Kea on many occasions in the South Island and this bird looked identical.
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