Jack Hinz
The world's only alpine parrot
My favourite shot from 2023 was one of the beautiful endangered Parrot, the kea.
I am proud to announce that this photograph is currently being used as a promotional image for the 2024 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Book. Get yourself of a copy of this book and see my photograph featured as a double-page spread in the link below.
shop.australiangeographic.com.au/products/australian-geog...
Kea's were once abundant across the South Island of New Zealand. They're omnivorous with a diet consisting mostly of insects, leaves and berries. When animal agriculture became widespread across New Zealand, some kea expanded their diet to a more interesting delicacy - the fat from the backs of sheep. Many sheep were being reported as bruised and injured so in the mid-1800s the government introduced a $120 bounty per kea beak. This was a lot of money for hunters back then.
Until 1986 when the species was officially protected, over 150,000 Kea's were culled. This was one of the worst cases of avicide in the world. It is estimated that only around 5,000 exist in the wild today.
Kea's are drawn to human activity; they are very curious by nature. They are common around tourist traps because they are often fed there which is harmful to them and turns them into beggars. I first saw one at the very popular Arthur's Pass, trying to open up a bin. It was sad to see and definitely did not make for a good photo. I tried to get an in-flight shot and noticed the lovely red and yellow spotted underwing which was only visible during flight. It was so colourful and beautiful but I had no luck getting a good shot. I hoped that maybe I could be lucky enough to see one in the wild with a more pleasing background than a concrete car park.
A week later I did a remote bushwalk through Nelson Lakes National Park, I didn't see more than a couple of people each day. On the second evening I heard a faint call which reminded me of the one I heard at Arthur's Pass the previous week. I followed the call up the side of the mountain I was camped under (in my crocs!) and sure enough I saw his olive-green plumage rustling around in the grass. I waited patiently for a clean view through the tall grass but soon he took off and I managed to capture this shot of his brilliant red underwing which was exactly what I hoped for! I was a very happy camper after that.
The world's only alpine parrot
My favourite shot from 2023 was one of the beautiful endangered Parrot, the kea.
I am proud to announce that this photograph is currently being used as a promotional image for the 2024 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Book. Get yourself of a copy of this book and see my photograph featured as a double-page spread in the link below.
shop.australiangeographic.com.au/products/australian-geog...
Kea's were once abundant across the South Island of New Zealand. They're omnivorous with a diet consisting mostly of insects, leaves and berries. When animal agriculture became widespread across New Zealand, some kea expanded their diet to a more interesting delicacy - the fat from the backs of sheep. Many sheep were being reported as bruised and injured so in the mid-1800s the government introduced a $120 bounty per kea beak. This was a lot of money for hunters back then.
Until 1986 when the species was officially protected, over 150,000 Kea's were culled. This was one of the worst cases of avicide in the world. It is estimated that only around 5,000 exist in the wild today.
Kea's are drawn to human activity; they are very curious by nature. They are common around tourist traps because they are often fed there which is harmful to them and turns them into beggars. I first saw one at the very popular Arthur's Pass, trying to open up a bin. It was sad to see and definitely did not make for a good photo. I tried to get an in-flight shot and noticed the lovely red and yellow spotted underwing which was only visible during flight. It was so colourful and beautiful but I had no luck getting a good shot. I hoped that maybe I could be lucky enough to see one in the wild with a more pleasing background than a concrete car park.
A week later I did a remote bushwalk through Nelson Lakes National Park, I didn't see more than a couple of people each day. On the second evening I heard a faint call which reminded me of the one I heard at Arthur's Pass the previous week. I followed the call up the side of the mountain I was camped under (in my crocs!) and sure enough I saw his olive-green plumage rustling around in the grass. I waited patiently for a clean view through the tall grass but soon he took off and I managed to capture this shot of his brilliant red underwing which was exactly what I hoped for! I was a very happy camper after that.