Kea, NZ native parrot Nestor notabilis

Enjoyed a trip to Orana Park today with Nature Photography group.

Great company and lots of opportunities - have a look at Kiwianna's blip too!

The Kea is the world's only alpine parrot. Its omnivorous diet includes dead animals but consists mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects.Much less common now , the kea was once killed for bounty because farmers thought they killed sheep. It was fully protected only in 1986.

The Kea nests in burrows or crevices among the roots of trees. Kea are known for their intelligence and curiosity, both vital to their survival in a harsh mountain environment. Kea can solve logical puzzles, such as pushing and pulling things in a certain order to get to food, and work together for the betterment of all in the group.