Balancing Act

I really love to observe animals because just by watching an animal you can learn what they eat, how they fly, how they interact with each other, etc.
This is the New Zealand wood pigeon or kererū. It grows to around 51 centimetres in length and 650 grams in weight and it is an endemic bird to New Zealand. It is impressive in its size and when in flight you can hear their wings swooshing up and down. If they fly close enough to you, you can feel the air moving around you face. When you find one, another won't be to far away. They don't mate for life however they're serial monogamist meaning they can mate with the same partner several times but will eventually move on to another. I have seen them eating dog wood, strawberries, nectar from many different flowers and in this case Mongolia petals. The branches of these magnolia trees as you can see aren't overly thick yet the bird is able to gracefully balance on the branch while it sits and eats. Its tail is perfectly designed to work like a counter weight.
More and more Im finding that photography isn't just about taking a pretty picture to hang the wall. For me it is more about capturing the essence of each subject so when you do put that picture on the wall you get drawn into it and feel like you are right there inside it. When I decide to keep an image I like to think a part of myself is put into it as its not just a picture on the wall it is my experience as well.
From a very young age I can remember watching wild life documentaries and shows like Earth with David Attenborough, and like many millions of others he has played a huge part in our education about the natural world. I draw inspiration from him and often think what a perfect life to live.Travelling the world and experiencing each and every environment and learning as much as humanly possible about this wonderfully complex planet we call hour home. He has given his whole life to the task and he freely shares his experience with all of us.