View allAll Photos Tagged TUI
The tui is a New Zealand nectar and fruit eating bird known for its acrobatic flying and its remarkable range of sounds. In captivity they can learn to talk just like parrots.
Tui. Photo during January 2009 in Queenstown, New Zealand at the Kiwi Birdlife Park. The white ball on the neck is a natural part of the bird. The bird is so iconic a beer has been named after it.
I noticed the baby Kingfisher (Kotare) was in the tree with a parent who was flying off to get food while the baby chilled. I grabbed the camera to get some shots of the feeding process, but what I captured was unexpected. While the parent was away the resident Tui appeared and was not happy with the baby being in his tree. After sitting on a branch, not to far away and yelling at the baby, who didn't take too much notice, the Tui flew over and landed by the baby who probably didn't understand what was going on. When the baby didn't move the Tui swung underneath and gave it a couple of good pecks to send it on its way. This is a good example of how territorial Tui can be. Nature is not always nice.
We live in the middle of urban Napier with this Tui as a regular visitor. He never usually sits still long enough for a photo, let alone lets me close enough to get one. Had time today for a few quick hand held shots, zoomed in as far as I could to get him.
It's taken me almost four years to get this close.