A Kereru in a plum tree

Today, while having our lunch, complaining about the wet cold weather we have had for the last couple of days, we were visited by a fat, happy, Kereru, [Wood Pigeon] who sat in our plum tree for about five minutes before leaving to continue his flight to where ever he was going.

He wasn’t shy, in fact I think he was watching to make sure I got his best side.

For those who have not had the chance to see one, the Kereru will grow to 510mm [20 inches] in length and weigh 650 grams [23 oz] in weight.

They have a very distinctive “Wooshing” sound when they fly, and perch with their white chest prominently raised.

Their place in Nature, is to eat and spread the larger native fruits [larger that 10mm in diameter] such as the Tareire, and the Cabbage Tree, thus spreading the seeds intact.

They nest in a flimsy nest constructed of a few twigs thrown together, and lay a single egg at a time.

There has been a total ban on hunting/shooting the Kereru since 1921 and the numbers are slowly rising despite the ravages of possums and rats.

Some info from

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner