The Jester

Kee-ee-aa-aa, kee-ee-aa.If you're a New Zealander, you should be familiar with this call. A call that immediately perks your attention. Prepares you for an encounter that is likely to evoke antics, humour, even disbelief.It’s the call of the mighty kea. New Zealand’s native and infamous alpine parrot. An endangered, stunning olive-green bird with striking orange, red and yellow feathers underwing. Instantly recognisable. A New Zealand icon.Extremely intelligent compared with other parrots, the kea is renowned for its cheekiness and curiosity. Stealing belongings, picking off windscreen wipers and even reassembling road cones! They always make for an entertaining encounter when they come circling in. A flock of kea is known as a ‘circus’ and rightly so.This particular encounter was captured in the early morning outside Ball Hut in the Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park. Making breakfast before a big day of climbing on the Southern Alps, the call of kee-ee-aa-aa sounded in the distance. Swoo