And a PARROT in a pear tree.

I love, love, love birds. I think my fondness of our feathered friends comes from my childhood trips to my grandparents' house in the woods (yes I would literally go over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house.)  My grandparents had a bird feeder right at their kitchen window. I grew up watching chickadees, mourning doves, and cardinals eat, eat, and eat some more. But, where there are bird feeders, there are squirrels. My Poppop was obsessed with keeping the squirrels off the feeder. He had a super soaker water gun, ice, and traps in his arsenal. He would humanely relocate the squirrels he caught down the street in another wooded area, but they kept on coming.

New Zealand's bird populations have been and continue to be in danger of extinction. Luckily thanks to many volunteers and government intervention, many wonderful bird species, like the kiwi, have significantly rebounded.  One of those species is the Eastern Rosella, which we have been very lucky to witness in the backyard of our temporary home stay in northern Auckland. (Though, they are not originally from New Zealand, but from Australia). Here are some shots of the duo. Over the past few days, we've never seen one without the other. They are an adorable little couple!

Female perched on pear tree

Eastern Rosellas are a type of parrot introduced from Australia into New Zealand as part of the bird revitalization. These two birds we keep seeing are 100% feral / wild. They are super skittish and incredibly intelligent.  They saw me coming a mile away with the camera and I had to creep slow-motion towards them without any sound at all as to not scare them away.

Male Eastern Rosella (Matt took this one - good job hon!)

Female eating the pears

"....and a parrot in a pear tree."

Video of the female rosella

Video of the male rosella on the apple tree