Blissful Willowbank Trip

Last June 4, 2019  the Year 11 ESOL class with Ms Briggs and Ms Flores went to Willowbank for a trip.  We went there because of our reading assessment about Kea and for us to do some learning outside the school.

When we arrived at Willowbank, the ESOL class was grouped into 3 teams. When we were already grouped, we started to answer questionnaires in our booklet. We follow the guide map that was given to us, where we could be guided where  to go and so that we would not get lost. I was very excited the day before the trip because I would be with my Filipino friends and it was my first time to go to the New Zealand Zoo. While following the map, I was amazed to see the animals and especially the birds. Like the donkeys, before I had just watched them on a TV screen but now I finally saw them in person and touched them. We toured the zoo until we finally arrived at the Kea’s place.

I was so amazed to see the Kea and nervous at the same time until one lady introduced herself to us and introduced the Kea’s that were flying near to us. I didn’t expect that Kea’s are friendly parrots. When I saw the underwings of the Kea I was really amazed by the colours. They  are striking orange-red with black and yellow striped primary feathers. After the Kea enclosure, we want to the Kiwi’s place it was so dark to the point that I couldn’t see anything but only the red lights that are posted in the woods near the alley. It was kind of exciting too because you really needed to use your sense organs so that you could know where the kiwi were.

Willowbank Trip was Fun! I didn’t expect that it would become a memorable trip for me too because  I encountered those animals that I just watched on the TV Screens before. Encountering the Kea was fun and I feel so blessed to have an opportunity to encounter that native parrot. In that time I felt relaxed from the school tasks that we are doing.

Facts about the Kea

The Kea

There are different kinds of parrots that we can see everywhere, with different characteristics, just like Kea.  Kea is a large parrot that can be seen only in the South Island of New Zealand and it is the world’s only alpine parrot.

Male and female Kea are green and black. However, the underwings of the keas are orange-red with black and yellow stripped feathers.  The Kea are large, weighing over 1kg. They are the second largest parrot in New Zealand. The beak of the kea can reach up to 5 ½ cm. They are curious and cheeky birds with a reputation for stealing food. The communication between the kea is achieved by their body and feather posture which only the Kea can understand and Kea are friendly parrots too.

 Kea are restricted to the South Island of New Zealand and are scarce across their 3.5 million hectare range. They inhabit lowland areas of podocarp forest on the West Coast of the South Island, through to alpine beech forests, alpine meadows and mountain scree slopes along the length of the Southern Alps from Waitutu in the southern reaches of Fiordland to Kahurangi in the far north-west.

 Keas nest on the ground. Breeding occurs in most years, but only about half of all adult females breed in any given year. Breeding occurs as early as July through until January. A kea nest takes four months to raise from a clutch of eggs to free-flying fledgelings.  Kea is omnivores. They will try anything including car aerials, ice creams and fingers.

Year 11 ESOL Willowbank Trip for Kea enclosure

It was an exciting and educational trip. Knowing that Kea birds can be only found in New Zealand. Encountering Kea personally was a blast!