The NZ pigeon (kereru) is an endemic, so found nowhere else in the world. It's also reputed to be the heaviest extant pigeon in the world. It isn't of course, anywhere close to the weight of the extinct dodo.

It has an IUCN threat category of near-threatened. Numbers have declined and competition for food from introduced pests remain a problem. The species is protected and benefits from active pest management.

The area I'm in is close to some areas of native bush, and we've got some birds about. More importantly, I've got some spots where I can photograph the birds at tree level. So, my collection of photos of kereru backsides generated by pointing cameras up into trees, can be consigned to the back of my PC.

I got the following shots early Sunday morning