31 May 2016

Two tui, Pohangina valley

The start of the tree lucerne flowering has begun to attract more korimako and tui, and the harakeke seed-heads offer a good place to perch and sing. This harakeke's a long way from my verandah, but with careful technique and heavy cropping of the photograph I managed a photograph I think reflects the attitude of tui. They're wonderful birds. I love them.

[1/320 sec at f4, ISO 250]



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10 comments:

  1. butuki31 May 2016 at 14:05

    Since I have never been to New Zealand, New Zealand birds always seem otherworldly to me. I can't even imagine their sounds, or the way they move. I'd love to see a tui someday.

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  2. Avus31 May 2016 at 19:58

    Nice image, Pete - caught the action well, too.
    Would these be the same birds which love to destroy car windscreen wipers and rubber trim - as happened to me when touring the North Island?

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  3. pohanginapete31 May 2016 at 20:22

    Miguel, I hope one day I can show you tui like these here in the wild. In the meantime, here's a short video by Tony Palmer in Dunedin; it shows tui calling, and even though it's a long way from my place, the song's very similar.

    Avus, no, you're thinking of kea, our mountain parrot (the only true alpine parrot in the world). They're one of the most intelligent birds in the world, likely to be at least as bright as the super-intelligent corvids like crows and ravens.

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  4. Barbara Butler McCoy31 May 2016 at 23:41

    Such dynamic composition - I feel pulled in and swept up onto that branch! I love to watch and listen to the various birds here in my neighborhood, but this sort of scene has escaped me. Amazing.

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  5. Zhoen1 June 2016 at 14:44

    Those elegant duchesses, in full harridan mode? I'm aghast.

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  6. pohanginapete1 June 2016 at 16:30

    Barbara, tui are so distinctive in so many ways, even the way they move, which always seems so full of energy (or maybe they just have ADHD ;-))

    Zhoen — ha! That's so fitting.

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  7. Lisa2 June 2016 at 07:41

    No, no, Zhoen - these are not the same birds. Our elegant duchesses (the kereru) would never behave like proletarian tuis! Tuis are street fighters.

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  8. pohanginapete2 June 2016 at 07:55

    Lisa, I hadn't thought of tui as street fighters before, but yes — I'm glad I'm not another bird in a tui's territory ;-)

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  9. Zhoen2 June 2016 at 11:35

    Lisa,
    Ah, well. It was a good story. And you never can tell with duchesses.

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  10. Lisa2 June 2016 at 14:18

    Actually, Zhoen, I've just remembered that the other name for tuis is the parson bird - so maybe we're witnessing a fight amongst the clergy ;-)

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Constructive criticism is welcomed (I particularly appreciate thoughts on what you like and don't like), but please keep it courteous.