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Pūtangitangi for BOTY

@putangitangi.co.nz
56 followers 73 following 34 posts

Our names are Ngaire and Lefty (meep). We live in a beautiful local park. We've been together since we were chicks and we've lost count of how many chicks we've raised together. Fed by @eddie.co.nz and @kelsy.co.nz. putangitangi.co.nz

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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 24/09/2026
Lefty was being bullied all morning by some intruder girls, but he and Ngaire saw them off. Time for a big dinner 😁.
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Kara Bee @faerytern.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
My Pūtangitangi pair with their own pair this season!
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 22/09/2026
Lefty is at a loose end while Ngaire is still looking after the eggs. During afternoon tea today, he's had to defend his Lucky Duck pile from a group of marauding mallards 😂. I love his green head, which only really shows up in direct sunlight. 🦆🦆🦆🦆 #AotearoaBirds
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Kara Bee @faerytern.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Looks like my Pūtangitangi pair have hatched two chicks. Got unlucky with a thunderstorm storm rolling through in the last couple weeks with all the rain and wind we've had. It's currently still raining, and they're on an adventure across the property. Will see if I can get photos later!
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 21/09/2026
We think Ngaire and Lefty's chickies will hatch in 2-5 days. Can't wait!
Two paradise shelducks (pūtangitangi)
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How Was Your Day? @madcarnivalgames.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
The putangitangi - setting the best example for parents everywhere. Find and 'collect' native birds in our point and click adventure game. #indiegame #gamedev #indiedev #pointandclick #narrativegames #birdsingames
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 05/09/2026
Only Lefty has arrived this morning. Ngaire must be sitting on her nest. When she's here too he constantly chats to us, but when he's on his own he is always completely silent. Possibly trying to avoid drawing attention to the nest? #BirdOfTheYear
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George Penney @georgepenney.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
A paradise duck is waddling down a quiet street in a zig zag fashion. Softly quack-quacking to her partner in crime who's trailing behind her. Heading for the river a few streets away as the sun rises over distant hills. (2)
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 04/09/2026
Voting is open! You can vote for Ngaire and Lefty at this link ♥️ www.birdoftheyear.org.nz?bird=paradis...
Ngaire eating her breakfast with Lefty standing in the background
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 02/09/2026
Today we camped out in different areas of the park so we could catch Ngaire and Lefty taking off and landing. We've discovered that she is nesting on the island in the middle of this pond! ♥️
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 30/08/2026
Listen to them chatting away! There's a couple of enemies circling around as well so they are also doing alert calls 🥰 #BirdOfTheYear
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 30/08/2026
Another beautiful morning in Ōamaru! #BirdOfTheYear
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 27/08/2026
We couldn't find Ngaire for ages this morning! They finally intercepted us as we were about to leave 🤣 Lefty is doing a great job climbing the stairs. #BirdOfTheYear
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 26/08/2026
Lefty is getting really fast now! His leg must be feeling better. When he wags his tail it means he's happy to see us 🥰. Vote pūtangitangi in #BirdOfTheYear!
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Kara Bee @faerytern.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
My resident pūtangitangi pair is nesting! in an abandoned rabbit burrow... Unfortunately the burrow is on a different neighbours property so I can't just stick a camera outside. maybe. But it was very comical watching her disappear straight into a hill from afar.
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 24/08/2026
Found her! Ngaire's turn to eat while Lefty stands guard.
A female pūtangitangi paradise shelduck eating duck food amongst the daffodils A male pūtangitangi paradise shelduck watching his partner eat
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 24/08/2026
Ngaire is missing in action this morning but Lefty's here. He greeted us good morning from across the stream 😂.
A male pūtangitangi paradise shelduck in the sun
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 23/08/2026
We're getting closer to Spring. Ngaire has been nesting by the edge of the creek, laying an egg a day. Chickies won't be far 😁 Today we've had to clear off a grey teal and another paradise duck!
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 09/08/2026
Lefty always waits for Ngaire to have her breakfast before he has his ♥️ There's a cheeky dunnock that's started showing up, stealing single grain and running away.
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 08/08/2026
Lefty looking very proud of himself this morning 🥰
A male pūtangitangi (paradise shelduck) in front of a female. They are both Very Alert as another pair were flying around trying to move in to the park!
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 08/08/2026
There are 9 Ngaire pūtangitangi, but can you spot the hidden Lefty? #boty
Ngaire Avenue has been taken over by pūtangitangi!
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greg @greg.nz · 06/08/2026
MMP but the prime minister is the Bird of the Year
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 06/08/2026
Another super cold morning, the pond is the most frozen we have ever seen in 2 years of walking around the park 🥶
The top pond, completely frozenTwo pūtangitangi (paradise shelducks) eating breakfast. On the left is the female with the white head. Male all black on the right.
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Michelle Cozens @measureofcalm.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
This female paradise shelduck was just hanging out at the entrance of a park I frequent (her mate was close by, nibbling on grass). They are a common sight here on the Kapiti Coast. #newzealandbirds #birds #eck #photography
A female paradise shelduck stands on one leg atop a fence post. She is facing left and has a white head and neck and chestnut brown body.
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AliceInTheSky @theotheralice.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
And just when I was falling and falling, down and down that rabbit-hole thinking (and I quote) "I wonder if I should fall right 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 the earth" (AiW, p. 7) I get a reaction from this lovely account from NEW ZEALAND. (@putangitangi.co.nz) (pics!) Through the earth indeed and out on the other side
Alice about to enter the rabbit-hole CloserInsideDown down down the rabbit-hole. Which turns out to be a long hallway with open windows and billowing white curtains. 
All images stills from the 1966 film.
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 05/08/2026
It's -1°C this morning! Ngaire and Lefty will loaf on the ground to keep their legs warm when it's too cold. Another park walker asked us how to train pūtangitangi this morning 😂.
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AliceInTheSky @theotheralice.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I had no idea they existed. Pleased to have found out. (Paradise Shelduck from New Zealand? So pretty. Mainly monogamous.Vegetarians but not dogmatic. And the flamboyant ginger Indian variety? Wow.) (Somebody save me from this rabbit hole. Please.)
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 05/08/2026
Today we're investigating some potential nesting sites! Underneath this root on the bank looks pretty promising. 🦆🦆🥚🥚🥚 Once Ngaire has laid her eggs she'll sit on them for about 30 days until they hatch.
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 04/08/2026
A beautiful autumn morning in the park today. The bombshells from yesterday have cleared off!
A female pūtangitangi (paradise shelduck) standing amongst fallen leaves. A male pūtangitangi (paradise shelduck) standing amongst fallen leaves.
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 04/08/2026
This week on Duck Island: Two bombshells arrive in the park! Will Lefty's head be turned? How will Ngaire react when she finds out? Stay tuned for more.
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leaflemming.bsky.social @leaflemming.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
No native birds were harmed making last week's episode of TAKAHE FOR BIRD OF THE YEAR. This week we ask the question: has that hungry predator actually gone, though? #BOTY
taracomics.substack.com
Hiding
Titipounamu and takahē meet again
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 02/08/2026
Intruders! A new couple (Van and Aurora) have moved into our park this morning. Hopefully they'll make good neighbours 👀
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 02/08/2026
We had to track down our humans in the park today, they were late feeding us! 🦆🦆
A female and male pūtangitangi pair (paradise shelducks) grazing on their morning lucky duck. We were standing around chatting and they flew over us multiple times tracking us down 😂
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Faff @faff.co.nz · 22/07/2026
Got a new lens for lookin' at birds
Tauhou (Zosterops lateralis lateralis)Kōtare (Todiramphus sanctus vagans)Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.8-8 on Canon EOS R10
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 01/08/2026
Mōrena from the gardens! Lovely weather this morning as we eat our buffet breakfast. #boty
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Maybe: Steven 🔜 MIGW 🦘 @ikiguy.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
this is *exactly* the type of thing the internet was made for
a screenshot from the pūtangitangi for bird of the year 2026 website showing a section with a live feed of posts about the native waterfowl on bluesky set to show photo thumbnails
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 31/07/2026
They even made us our own website! My favourite part is switching between the female and male themes.
putangitangi.co.nz
Pūtangitangi — Paradise shelduck
The pūtangitangi or paradise shelduck — endemic waterfowl of Aotearoa New Zealand: plumage, behaviour, and fun facts.
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 31/07/2026
Our human friends might need to stop feeding us soon due to bird flu, but until then we're stocking up and getting as round as possible before breeding season starts.
Lefty the pūtangitangi in all his round glory.
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 31/07/2026
Mōrena! We're Ngaire and Lefty, a pair of pūtangitangi running an unofficial campaign for Bird of the Year 2026 🦆. Lefty has an injured leg, and some nice humans have been feeding us every day to help his recovery ♥️.
A pair of pūtangitangi (paradise shelducks). On the left is a male standing to attention while chatting softly. His wife on the right is busy eating while he guards against enemies. They take turns eating and guarding.
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY @putangitangi.co.nz · 31/07/2026
Make sure you vote for pūtangitangi in this year's BOTY competition!
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Tara @taracomics.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
An honour, you see. #boty open.substack.com/pub/taracomi...
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Eddie @eddie.co.nz · 31/07/2026
Bird of the year starts 4th September! We tried to become campaign managers for the pūtangitangi but missed out. Maybe next year 😭.
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