
this is a classic new zealand flower that flowers in early spring called the kowhai (ko-fie). along with its arrival comes a great bird who comes to gorge himself silly on the nectar.

meet the tui. he has a white pompom under his chin (do birds have chins?!) the early settlers called him the parson bird but in maori lore he wears the pompoms as the sign of a coward.

he makes the most amazing noises. sometimes a whistle but more often almost wooden and raspy and knocking. the kowhai tree is right by our front deck and i can never resist going out when i hear one. i also enjoy, later in the season they go for the flax flowers which have quite deep cups so the nectar is well fermented and those birds sure do tie one on!

here he is sideways and he often hangs upsidedown. anything to get that precious nectar. not sure that i'll be applying for a job with national geographic anytime soon but hopefully these are okay.