Kea on Avalanche Peak

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Kea on Avalanche Peak

Kea on Avalanche Peak

A kea (New Zealand's endemic mountain parrot) against the backdrop of the Arthur's Pass peaks. These birds are curious and entertaining, as long as they don't get a hold of any of your gear! Photo by Howie Silleck, from the summit of Avalanche Peak, March 28, 2006.
hhsilleck
on Apr 12, 2006 8:29 pm
Lat/Lon: 42.54°S / 171.35001°E
Image Type(s): Hiking,  Wildlife
Image ID: 187727

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Viewing: 1-12 of 12
awilsondc

awilsondc - Apr 13, 2006 1:44 am - Voted 10/10

Kea want a cracker?

Very nice shot!!!

hhsilleck

hhsilleck - Apr 13, 2006 5:47 pm - Hasn't voted

Thanks!

This bird was quite a personality!

Zac Finley

Zac Finley - May 2, 2006 12:06 am - Voted 10/10

This..

is awesome!

hhsilleck

hhsilleck - May 2, 2006 7:50 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: This..

Thanks Zac!

hhsilleck

hhsilleck - Sep 7, 2006 12:28 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Neat little parrot

Thanks Ariel - they are neat little creatures!
Cheers,
Howie

Rick B

Rick B - Feb 16, 2007 4:13 pm - Voted 10/10

So New Zealand!

This is such a good shot, makes me want to go back. One question, the Kea's on your photos have a partly orange beak, whereas all the Kea's I saw had black beaks. Are they of the same species? Does it mean anything like whether it's a male of female? Just wondering... They look pretty different because of this little detail, it's also around the eye..


Cheers,

Rick

hhsilleck

hhsilleck - Feb 16, 2007 5:46 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: So New Zealand!

Hey Rick - Thanks for your kind words. I took a look at my other Kea pictures from other spots around the South Island, and they all had the bit of orange on their beaks as well. Do you have a picture posted of one of the black beak keas? I'd love to see it.
Cheers,
Howie

Rick B

Rick B - Feb 17, 2007 12:54 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: So New Zealand!

Hey Howie,

There's one on Summitpost, and I have a close-up on my own homepage (in dutch though). I think they look really different, even if it's such a subtle difference. Might also be the 'haircut' of the one on your photo :-)

Cheers,

Rick

Rick B

Rick B - Apr 5, 2007 3:13 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: So New Zealand!

Hey Howie, somebody explained it to me today: the yellow faced ones are young birds, as the get older they turn black.

Cheers,

Rick

hhsilleck

hhsilleck - Apr 8, 2007 4:37 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: So New Zealand!

Hey - good detective work! Thanks for letting me know!

Cheers,
Howie

Marija Jokanovic

Marija Jokanovic - Jul 8, 2007 1:49 pm - Voted 10/10

Great ..

shoot.

Brian Jenkins

Brian Jenkins - Jan 18, 2008 4:05 pm - Voted 10/10

Nice shot

Do you recall what direction this is looking towards? Is that Lyell and Bealey in the distance or are they the other way. (I'm headed there in two weeks and was looking to do this climb and combine it with others on the ridge and was looking for beta shots.)
Thanks,
Brian

Viewing: 1-12 of 12