A gentle forest giant

July/August 2025

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July/August 2025

Kererū are among the largest arboreal pigeons in the world. Photo: Anthony Gillis
The kererū might best be described as a daredevil skydiving giant ‘fruit dove’. This gentle forest giant has a Zen-like serenity when resting on a branch, but it can also be comically clumsy when landing awkwardly and surprisingly pugnacious when defending a fruiting tree from another bird, striking out with its powerful wings. Along with […]
Michael Szabo

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.

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