December 9, 2007 – 8:19 pm
The Pukeko with its weird backward-bendy leg
I took Mum’s car into the mechanic to see if he could remove the mobile phone from the guts of the airconditioning system (apparently not). While I was waiting for that decision, I went to the Countdown supermarket around the corner to buy some Meal Mates, Krispie biscuits, NZ wine, Trident Spicy Thai noodles and other requested NZ fare.
On the way back, I stopped at the little pond because I noticed a pukeko wandering around, and so had to stop to take some photos.
In fact, there were three of them, hanging with the ducks.
Braver — or possibly stupider — than ducks
Like ducks, pukekos will approach if they think you might have bread, or if you throw a piece of bark into the air in a manner that suggests generous feeding. Unlike ducks, they can’t fly away if it turns out you want to wring their necks — though they can run along at a fair clip.
Fortunately for them, I just wanted to take a few snaps.
Pukekos in their natural habitat: out the back of a Pit Stop
Having a wonderful time, and wish you were here — especially if you have a long, skinny, bendy arm for retrieving items from air vents.
Tagged: New Zealand, Personal, Travel