What a delightful surprise.

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There's something less than 200 kōtuku in New Zealand. 

 

Come springtime, they all head to Whataroa in southern Westland, and in particular the Okarito lagoon.  That's when and where they breed and raise their young.  Otherwise they go about their solitary ways, checking out new places.

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Our pond would have been the attraction. 

 

Though I didn't see it fishing,  I'm guessing theirs a few less eels in our pond.  It must take a take a lot of food to sustain a bird of this size.

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If there's anything more elegant than a kōtuku, I've yet to see it.  It carries its body on long narrow legs adapted for mud flats. It's high stepping and closing it's toes with every lift.   

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If your one of another rare breed, 'people who carry cash', then you've probably got an image of a kōtuku in flight.   

 

Check out a two dollar coin:  Queen on one side.  Kōtuku on the other.

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The New Zealand kōtuku are of Australian decent, but their residency pre-dates oral history.  That is: they've probably been here longer than us.  

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After four days, he or she flew off to grace someone else's place.

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