New Zealand Bird Photography
New Zealand has a rich diversity of both native and introduced birds. The iconic cheeky Kea, The prolific Tui, The Kaka, The Takahe, The Kōkako,The Fantail, The Black Swan and more. The Kea, found in the South Island, is inquisitive and the easiest to photograph however they all make for a magical and rewarding images.
I love New Zealand Birds! While my focus is New Zealand Landscape Photography this pursuit also inevitably exposes me to beautiful birdlife, and while capturing landscapes, opportunities arise to capture amazing New Zealand birdlife images. Persistence is key in this pursuit as, unlike landscapes, birds are constantly on the move - when images are captured they can be magical.
Some Detail about New Zealand
Bird Photography
My first successful bird photograph was taken in my backyard when Tuis visited our flowering flax plants to feed - they were mesmerising as they flitted from flax flower to flax flower, displaying territorial behaviour and having prolonged arguments with each other! Tuis have bright iridescent feathers and a great song call. I was hooked and am always on the lookout for additional images of birds during my landscape photography shoots.
One such opportunity presented itself while photographing the beautiful light cast from a sinking sun at Lake Tarawera - this time a family of Black Swans graced the location and the Black Swan Family image was born.
New Zealand Native Birds are my focus though, with a huge variety of birds unique to New Zealand spread across the country.
My favourite has to be the cheeky Kea parrot. Kea are primarily found in the mountainous areas of the South Island of New Zealand, especially within and near alpine regions. They are most common in mountain forests and adjacent subalpine and alpine zones, but can also be found in coastal areas and lowlands. Notable areas for kea sightings include Arthur's Pass National Park, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Fiordland National Park, and areas around Milford Sound. They are very social and can be destructive to car rubber surrounds and windscreen wipers - so be on guard when these inquisitive birds pay you a visit.
Other native birds to note are:
The Fantail (Piwakawaka) - a small bird with a tail that fans out.
The Kiwi - New Zealand's long beaked, nocturnal, flightless bird that is a namesake for the population that are citizens of New Zealand (colloquially called 'Kiwis')
Weka - generally brown in colour, though the specific shade can vary. Their plumage is typically a rich brown mottled with black and grey. Some weka, like those on the Chatham Islands, can be a lighter buff color, while those in Fiordland or Stewart Island can be almost black.
Bellbird - (Korimako, Makomako, komako), is a medium-sized, green tinged honey eater found across the country.
The Kererū - This large and distinctively-coloured pigeon is a familiar sight to many New Zealanders. This is because the kererū (New Zealand pigeon) has a widespread distribution through the country, being present in extensive tracts of native forest, and rural and urban habitats, including most cities. As well as allowing close approach, it often roosts conspicuously, such as on powerlines or on the tops of trees. The distinctive sound of its wing beats in flight will draw your attention to this beautiful cubby bird.
New Zealand also has a huge number of sea birds many of whom migrate here on an annual basis from many thousands of kilometres away.
There are many reasons why the birds of New Zealand are remarkable and special. A lot of it has to do with the lack of the power that makes a bird a bird – the ability to fly. Flightlessness is only one characteristic contributing to the uniqueness of our birds. Many New Zealand birds are also very long-lived, and have slow breeding rates, as well as small clutch sizes and large eggs. Several species are nocturnal, and others have a large body size. All these features have contributed to their extinction or decline.
All this makes protection of our birdlife critical - so both we and future generations are able to enjoy this rich diversity of life.
Photographing birds can be a real challenge. However, if you research the behaviour of different species to find out the best times of day and locations to see them, use a good quality camera and lens with pre-set shutter speed, aperture and ISO, use steady shot function or possibly a monopod for stability, and have a large amount of patience then you will be rewarded with some great images. Google bird photography for more tips and for details about New Zealand birds a top book to accompany you should be 'The Hand Guide to the BIRDS of NEW ZEALAND' by Hugh Robertson and Barrie Heather.
And finally, remember to give all birds you encounter due respect and care so we can preserve the treasure that are New Zealand birds. And be careful not to disturb their habitat.
I am hopeful that the images I have shared on this page will help ignite both an appreciation and a passion for New Zealand Birds and that this will encourage you to explore and experience the beautiful birdlife that New Zealand has to offer.
Bird Photography
My first successful bird photograph was taken in my backyard when Tuis visited our flowering flax plants to feed - they were mesmerising as they flitted from flax flower to flax flower, displaying territorial behaviour and having prolonged arguments with each other! Tuis have bright iridescent feathers and a great song call. I was hooked and am always on the lookout for additional images of birds during my landscape photography shoots.
One such opportunity presented itself while photographing the beautiful light cast from a sinking sun at Lake Tarawera - this time a family of Black Swans graced the location and the Black Swan Family image was born.
New Zealand Native Birds are my focus though, with a huge variety of birds unique to New Zealand spread across the country.
My favourite has to be the cheeky Kea parrot. Kea are primarily found in the mountainous areas of the South Island of New Zealand, especially within and near alpine regions. They are most common in mountain forests and adjacent subalpine and alpine zones, but can also be found in coastal areas and lowlands. Notable areas for kea sightings include Arthur's Pass National Park, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Fiordland National Park, and areas around Milford Sound. They are very social and can be destructive to car rubber surrounds and windscreen wipers - so be on guard when these inquisitive birds pay you a visit.
Other native birds to note are:
The Fantail (Piwakawaka) - a small bird with a tail that fans out.
The Kiwi - New Zealand's long beaked, nocturnal, flightless bird that is a namesake for the population that are citizens of New Zealand (colloquially called 'Kiwis')
Weka - generally brown in colour, though the specific shade can vary. Their plumage is typically a rich brown mottled with black and grey. Some weka, like those on the Chatham Islands, can be a lighter buff color, while those in Fiordland or Stewart Island can be almost black.
Bellbird - (Korimako, Makomako, komako), is a medium-sized, green tinged honey eater found across the country.
The Kererū - This large and distinctively-coloured pigeon is a familiar sight to many New Zealanders. This is because the kererū (New Zealand pigeon) has a widespread distribution through the country, being present in extensive tracts of native forest, and rural and urban habitats, including most cities. As well as allowing close approach, it often roosts conspicuously, such as on powerlines or on the tops of trees. The distinctive sound of its wing beats in flight will draw your attention to this beautiful cubby bird.
New Zealand also has a huge number of sea birds many of whom migrate here on an annual basis from many thousands of kilometres away.
There are many reasons why the birds of New Zealand are remarkable and special. A lot of it has to do with the lack of the power that makes a bird a bird – the ability to fly. Flightlessness is only one characteristic contributing to the uniqueness of our birds. Many New Zealand birds are also very long-lived, and have slow breeding rates, as well as small clutch sizes and large eggs. Several species are nocturnal, and others have a large body size. All these features have contributed to their extinction or decline.
All this makes protection of our birdlife critical - so both we and future generations are able to enjoy this rich diversity of life.
Photographing birds can be a real challenge. However, if you research the behaviour of different species to find out the best times of day and locations to see them, use a good quality camera and lens with pre-set shutter speed, aperture and ISO, use steady shot function or possibly a monopod for stability, and have a large amount of patience then you will be rewarded with some great images. Google bird photography for more tips and for details about New Zealand birds a top book to accompany you should be 'The Hand Guide to the BIRDS of NEW ZEALAND' by Hugh Robertson and Barrie Heather.
And finally, remember to give all birds you encounter due respect and care so we can preserve the treasure that are New Zealand birds. And be careful not to disturb their habitat.
I am hopeful that the images I have shared on this page will help ignite both an appreciation and a passion for New Zealand Birds and that this will encourage you to explore and experience the beautiful birdlife that New Zealand has to offer.