Oct 30, 2025 Blue Spring
We went upriver to the trail along the Waihou River to Blue Spring, walking along green paddocks with cows and enjoying the sunshine.
About half way up the trail we spotted some movement on a tiny island of vegetation in the shallow river. It was a Pukeko nest! We stayed for about a half hour watching the adults feed and protect the 4 tiny nestlings!
You can just spot one adult on the nest in the middle and the 2nd a dark figure on the left. Ultimately we counted 4 chicks, 2 were in the nest under the brooding bird, and 2 were outside the nest and being fed small bits of vegetation plucked from the area by the adult walking around the nest. A third adult arrived, walking to the island and commenced taking over the feeding of one of the chicks outside the nest. The bird on the nest got up and left the nest and the newcomer climbed onto the nest and took over the care of the now 3 nestlings there (one had climbed back into the nest). The adult bird ‘relieved of duty’ eventually crossed the river and climbed up the hill presumably to feed itself! Amazing cooperation! With binoculars we were able to see all this activity, and the incredible gangliness of the chicks, which must have been just days old.
I grabbed this picture of a Pukeko and chick off the internet to give you a more clear view of what we saw with binoculars. Our picture doesn’t show the beautiful blue feathers of the adults or the red face patch and beak.
Further up the river at a narrow spot we saw the water wheel that provided power to the farm in the area. It still turns, but is no longer attached to a power generator for electricity.
At the end of the trail the river widens to a beautiful pool of crystal clear, cold water with a sandy bottom. It is very reminiscent of Silver Spring in Florida, minus the alligators!!