In terms of colors, pukeko is one of my favorite New Zealand native birds. Their movements are not graceful, however, and friends who have a huge place in the Marlborough Sounds say they are among the more stupid, living in a compost heap, and noisy. All the more reason to like them, perhaps. (The photo looks a bit more tolerable enlarged. Thanks.)JB has a great closeup of the foot here.
Is that a really long foot or is he wearing skis?
ReplyDeleteha ha! i laughed at the above comment. they should have great big feet, funny things they are. i loved them whilst i was there. hope you are recovering well. i am feeling human again today thank heavens! just in time for me birthday tomorrow! have a painfree weekend meg!
ReplyDelete;0)
Great shot - the lighting is great.
ReplyDeleteI love these guys, as stupid that they may be is such a joy watching them wander around!
ReplyDeleteGood one
Cheers Meg
That there thing IS his foot, amazingly. I remember something Michael Palin did in one of the Funny Walk episodes in Monty Python; he had shoes about 3ft long.
ReplyDeleteSo, imagine pukekos trying to run really fast with those appendages! I don't know why I haven't seen a funny cartoon of that around here yet.
And thanks, Pod, I'm off of meds complete and finally and I have no excuse for being lazy any more.
It's a agreat name!!
ReplyDeleteWe had loads of them at Elspeth's place down on the estuary. They're a hoot when alarmed - they flick their tails rapidly which exposes the white feathers, so it's like a strobe light.
ReplyDeleteThey eat clover roots - put them out with their beak and then delicately hold the foliage with the claw and nibble off the rest.
We've got 2 on the farm, down by the pond if you want to keep an eye on them, Meg
PS
ReplyDeleteSee that Ben got the photos working again. Good man, Ben..!
Thanks for your visits.
ReplyDeleteJB, I didn't realize they were that dexterous; I've got to see it, just to make sure you're not having me on, again!! And yeah, yeah, me the International Cyber Crim!
Think that's a bird only a mother could love. Great photo Meg.
ReplyDeleteOh, hilarious, Photowannabe. Unlike your calf, you might be right.
ReplyDeletePukekos are my favourite too meg. Great photo!
ReplyDeleteThey're pretty cute, aren't they, Louise.
ReplyDeleteHmmm big feet or long foot, reminds me of Ronald Mcdonald!
ReplyDeleteoops, I am totally way off.. but that's what comes to my mind. haha...
Of course, it looks a bit like Ronald. Yeah.... Maybe I should stick a bow tie on this guy! Hee hee.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet creature.
ReplyDeleteOne wonders what was mother nature's intention with that creation. Not to think of Darwin, how would he explain it to us?
Now we're getting serious, Merisi. One thing that's for sure is that we don't get the snow, at least now in big areas where Pukekos roam, so it's not to act as snow shoes.
ReplyDeleteJB???
With something about eats, roots and leaves or what....?
ReplyDeleteAt least they don't shoot, eh?
ReplyDeleteWell, they're swamp birds, so I guess the snow shoe idea isn't too far off the mark
ReplyDeleteSay, I was thinking possibly swamp, and I was going to look it up, but then I got a little preoccupied by the news of a friend who had what sounded like a really bad house-maintenance-related accident Wednesday night. But thanks for the intelligence.
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