07/09/2026
Meet the kea,
They are native to New Zealand’s South Island and they are among the few parrot species adapted to mountain environments, and are known for their amazing intelligence, curiosity and playful nature. Their name comes from their distinctive call, which sounds like “kee-aa.” Their natural curiosity often leads them to investigate people’s belongings and occasionally dismantle things! This cheeky individual at Blackpool zoo was hopping along the glass and then jumping about with an empty toilet roll in his beak!
Their olive-green feathers may look quite subtle at first, but they hide beautiful flashes of orange-red beneath their wings. Sadly, kea are endangered, making the work to protect these fascinating birds and their natural habitat so important, Conservation groups like the Kea Conservation Trust and New Zealand's Department of Conservation, state there are fewer than 7,000 birds remaining.
A beautiful and very entertaining bird to photograph, and it was really special getting to see and photograph one up close đź’š
