Pukeko Wars!

If you want to be blown away, let go!!

Mist rising off the water.

What I hear .... what I see .... what I do ..... what I think ..... all contribute to who I am and the impact I have on those around me. Every snippet of conversation .... every image glimpsed from the corner of my eye .... has something to add to my world ...

.... even the Pukeko Wars at Waiatarua!

It’s breeding season and it’s every fowl for himself. I’ve always known Pukeko are feisty birds but I’ve never seen them exhibit the behaviour Julia and I witnessed today.

It stopped us in our tracks.

Pukeko Island became a disputed hot-spot as one Pukeko after another tried to lay claim to it. There was much tail flashing .... baring of claws .... AND ripping out of feathers. The desire to pro-create turns a colony of birds that usually live in comfortable companionship into a gang of aggressive adversaries. 

The hounds were shocked. Even the DUCKS were shocked.

It was all over in 10 minutes. Feathers were fluffed and dignity restored ... one Pukeko left standing victoriously on Pukeko Island. It wasn’t long before he was joined by a female as his male adversary skulked off in the opposite direction.  

It was another of those moments of BEING in the right spot .... of being BLOWN AWAY by what’s happening in front of my eyes. Gosh .... I just LOVE getting pictures like that!

Baring of claws ....

.... and plucking of feathers!

The rest of our ramble was uneventful. My hound did her usual trick of parading around the reserve with the ball firmly wedged in her mouth ... only relinquishing it when it could be thrown in whatever puddle/stream/pond we happened to come upon.

Indy ensured there were no delicacies left behind for any other hound to find ... he’s good like that.

Gorgeous Indy .... or should that be HANDSOME!

For a moment today I actually wondered if I should wear long pants when we ramble ... the number of comments I get about wearing shorts is escalating. Between my shorts and Julia’s colourful long socks we manage to attract attention that we don’t always want. What is it about men and women’s legs! Wearing shorts is the only way to stay dry when you ramble with a hound like mine that loves the water! Fortunately it was only a fleeting thought ... the shorts will remain.

It’s been another of those glorious days that went AWOL over the past few weeks .... our third glorious day in a row. If this is a foretaste of what spring and summer have in store then bring it on! It’s magnificent!

.... and it means I get to eat Joshua’s Orange Marmalade Ice-Cream ALL the time ... without getting funny looks from passers-by!!