Kiwi & Birdlife Park

May 1st. After getting up at 10 and surveying the damage to my feet (not too bad apart from 1 blister) it is time to do something with today. We head up the hill and some steps to the Kiwi & Birdlife Park here in Queenstown. It features lots of rare birds found in NZ and we will get to see our first Kiwi (I think this will be the only way we will get to see one as they are too rare to see in the wild). The park is quite good and we see some Tui, Kea's and a big fat NZ Wood pigeon, there also is some side amusment by some ducks that live on the pond in the park having a bit of a territorial dispute. The Kiwi's are really cool and they have switched over the day/nighttime in a darkened enclosure so we can see them being active and foraging around. We are treated to the kiwi making a lot of noise by calling out with its distinctive cry.

Pictures (Left) - Kea's - Arctic parrots who I chatted too for a bit while in the cage. (Right) - A NZ Wood Pigeon - It is easy to see why the Mauri could easily spear them in the trees - you can hardly miss!

More info on the Kiwi