This post is a contribution by Patrick Lam.

Patrick started discovering birds when he came to New Zealand for what was supposed to be a 4-month stay in January 2020.

Photo copyright © Patrick Lam, 2024.

The Pūteketeke (Australasian Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus australis) is an uncommon native bird seen on the open inland lakes of
the South Island.

I always hope to see them when I’m in Wānaka. John Darby ONZM has led efforts to provide suitable nesting platforms for Pūteketeke from the Wānaka Boardwalk.

Around Christmas, these birds can be seen fighting for nesting platforms (housing crisis!) and carrying their young on their backs. They are not great at choosing good nesting platforms; I saw some nesting on the back of a boat in Queenstown once.

It was also voted Bird of the Century in 2024 as championed by John Oliver.