324/366 - Spur-winged plover at Mapua mud flats

Spur-winged plover

Estuary between Mapua and Rabbit Island

View from road to campsite, looking towards the Mapua wharf

 All the above photos taken by my mum (visiting from the UK.)

301/366 - Day old chick

Sonny Jim's favourite thing about the Nelson A&P Show each year is cuddling the day old chicks!

207/366 - Bird mosaic in Nelson Hospital grounds

199/366 - Cheeky Kea @ Rainbow ski field

57/366 - Takahē

We visited Zealandia wildlife sanctuary today and I took several photos of these beautiful and very rare Takahē birds. There are only just over 200 left in the country and therefore the world, and for many years they were thought to be entirely extinct. However, in January 2011 two were released at Zealandia and this is one of them! For more about conservation efforts to save the takahē, look here.

Photo taken using Canon EOS 400D camera with 75-300mm lens (no tripod).

17/366 - Almost ready to fly the nest

Under the eaves at the Mapua "mall"