Winter provides close, unforgettable encounters for bird watchers. New Zealand is a winter wonderland for bird watching. The classic winter experience has to be a close encounter with kea in the South Island high country. Their high-pitched kee-aa-aa call is the iconic sound of the Southern Alps, and their antics bring a smile to anyone’s […]
About the author
Michael Szabo
Michael Szabo is the author of Wild Wellington and Native Birds of Aotearoa, editor of Birds New Zealand magazine, and writes for Greenpeace Aotearoa. He has explored all 14 national parks, the Chatham Islands and the Subantarctic Islands. He has also written for New Scientist, NZ Geographic, Sunday Star Times and The Listener, and is a former editor of Forest & Bird magazine. He has a joint honours degree in communications and cultural studies from the University of Leeds. His favourite food is bagels.
The 2026 Wilderness Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition
A tale of adventure and tragedy
Mt Peel, Kahurangi National Park
A lofty location for Brass Monkey
Get lost and suffer
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