Weka on Kapiti Island

A wild weka (Gallirallus australis), a flightless rail native to New Zealand, wanders around the picnic area on Kapiti Island near Wellington. The sturdy bird has brown and grey plummage and strong legs, with a reddish eye. Kapiti Island is a protected conservation area which has been cleared of pests, where weka can flourish. The birds wander around visitors to the island looking for scraps despite a prohibition on feeding them.