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.
I think you did a great job! Thanks for the natural history lesson - I love learning about NZ culture and nature (my SO is a Kiwi). :)
Posted by: Claudia | September 11, 2007 at 01:40 AM
If those blooms were coffee cups, in the morning... that bird would be me!
I so enjoyed the Kiwi nature lesson!!!
Posted by: happy zombie | September 11, 2007 at 12:10 PM
How interesting the story is about that bird. And he's a funny little thing with his pom pom hanging from his chin.
Posted by: sharon | September 11, 2007 at 08:13 PM
that bird looks amazing, all we have in our garden at the moment is a family of wood pigeons who have lost their home as we had to chop a rather large tree down, and they haven't moved on. i wish they would though as they keep pooing on our new trampoline!!!
Posted by: lucykatecrafts | September 14, 2007 at 08:48 AM
I love birds!!!! I'd like him in my garden with his cute little chin! Today I saw a robin and a wren in my garden (and a black cat stalking them both!)
Posted by: Katy | September 16, 2007 at 12:15 AM
Thanks for sharing life in your corner of the world!
Posted by: Mae | September 16, 2007 at 06:14 PM
Wow! Thanks for the lesson and the great photographs!
Posted by: mrspilkington | September 18, 2007 at 12:02 PM
of course your photos are ok, THEY'RE GREAT! I've never seen a bird with a pompon on his chin. Thanks for sharing,
RIchmond, Virginia, USA
Posted by: Holly | October 13, 2007 at 02:47 PM
Wow, I am glad I stumbled upon your blog! I am a Kiwi living in the States and it was so nice seeing the Kowhai and Tui again! Thank you so much! I will return here often :)
Posted by: Joanna | October 14, 2007 at 09:50 AM