And again!

This is much cooler than that stupid butterstick. After probably 50 trips to the National Zoo, I finally was able to *actually* see the kiwi on my last one in December. I wonder if the egg was there then.

Kiwi chicks hatch fully feathered with their eyes open and begin foraging for small worms and berries after their first week of life, since they receive no help from their parents.

What's up with the parents?? "Welcome to the world, you're on your own bitch!"

you called?

That kiwi is almost as cute as gaspode.

"Kiwi" is just fun to say. Especially if you hold your nose when you do it.

I remember about 3 or so years ago, there was fantastic video footage of a kiwi defending its burrow from a possum. Department of conservation had set up these infrared cameras to keep an eye on the kiwi because their eggs were being preyed upon (yay for introduction of new species! not.) by possums. Anyways, so you see the vid, and the possum going in and then you see it coming out being chased by the kiwi, and the kiwi kicking its ass.

Awesome. Instilled national pride in my jaded heart.

Also: kiwi are awesome because they kick strongly and have nostrils on the end of their beaks. Tough little bastards.

Brings back memories of the day I hatched.

And their eggs are so tasty!

Biggest omelette ever, dude!

If you're ever in NZ, I wholeheartedly suggest going to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, which has a kiwi breeding program and where you can see one literally close enough to touch, with just a wire fence between you and the ickle birdies. Way cool and surprisingly thrilling.