A family was hiking in New Zealand when suddenly a kea stole their camera – and took impressive pictures from the air.
Keas are known for their kleptomaniac traits. The mountain parrots with the pretty colorful plumage are at home in New Zealand on the rocky high mountain meadows of the South Island and have made a name for themselves as thieves. They like to take things with them: food, jewellery, wallets or cameras. The Verheul family also had this experience in Fiordland National Park.
The Verheuls were hiking the Kepler Track, a multi-day circular trek, when two keas joined them on the balcony of their lodgings. The family’s GroPro lay on the balcony railing – and bang, it was gone. Caught in the beak of a kea, which flew away with it. Meanwhile, the camera continued to film. The photo shows rocks and meadows on the ground as well as the belly and wing base of the bird.
Alex Verheul uploaded it to Youtube. Because the camera came back into the hands of the family after the parrots’ raid. Alex Verheul told local television program Seven Sharp that they followed the loud calls of the birds.
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The keas had flown to a rock and started inspecting and picking at the camera. The birds had the GoPro for 3 minutes and 50 seconds. As the family approached, the birds flew into a nearby tree. “I found her,” a boy calls out in English as he picks up the camera.
They were shocked that everything was captured on film, Alex Verheul continues. But in the end, of course, the good anecdote prevails: the hike was a great experience. Mainly because of the keas that would have kept the family entertained all along.
The incident with the camera was not the last encounter the Verheuls had with Keas during their four-day tour: On the second day, the thieving birds stole cups from their backpacks during a hike.
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Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
