22nd-24th February 2022, I was lucky to go join a Kea Conservation Trip in the Matukitukit Valley, catching a sampling from the local keas, of which there were quite a few young ones! Also, as always, it's a beautiful valley.
![Matukituki Valley in dramatic lighting](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/eb50ed7f-e672-4345-9d1a-699281972040_rw_3840.jpg?h=da4bb4217d12738a9f8601f6a7b54ece)
Heading up the Matukituki Valley with some threatening weather.
![Rain in the Matukituki Valley](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/ffe76130-21b7-4ed3-b523-8f6fe9d20a42_rw_3840.jpg?h=453ee2c572b37b4b2aee6697adf03525)
It appears that it might be raining higher up the valley
![Rain in the Matukituki Valley](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/ba088293-3aea-4246-bce5-00b302144761_rw_3840.jpg?h=318deb748929fa69773017befa3c53c0)
It is lovely though
![Black and White photo of rain in the matukituki valley](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/00287b34-72b1-4752-b6c5-566c1b890541_rw_3840.jpg?h=ef83cbf796d37c1e79bc06dd9313fe7f)
Also, cool in black and white
![Fledgling Kea](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/888fc829-a538-4a2b-9dc5-43eb70a60d10_rw_1920.jpg?h=72db0c8d854329523feece8d4e891e69)
Handsome young fella!
![Two fledgling keas attacking a croc](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/738a4d3d-c377-4604-b6ce-696ab41a4848_rw_3840.jpg?h=cd29ed5325e2ba8727b7c68b51626378)
A pair having a taste of my croc!
![Two fledgling keas attacking a croc](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/e0fa20eb-8de6-4bbb-9bf2-f12d4fba4f57_rw_3840.jpg?h=925cab931e3aa2118fc058a771eb66a5)
Very handsome boys
![Juvenile kea grooming](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/b52d9a79-37f5-46d0-97e4-afafea1a4d5a_rw_3840.jpg?h=bc5c272d5aac08188bcca35f2f92c8c6)
Grooming time
![Tomtit/miromiro](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/89cb63a7-771b-4eb9-b613-0be89becf059_rw_1920.jpg?h=3ae12044960682a246caa657c6fbd43b)
Not a kea. But a lovely shot of a Tomtit/Miromiro
![Kea and kea proof tap](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/30054dd1-0b9e-4109-a3c1-775b20af05fc_rw_3840.jpg?h=bd2b023e0ab0e098b42e825f5db2e717)
A demonstration of why we need kea-proof taps at our remote huts
![Fledgling kea](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/c6d22c24-47d6-48ef-a8fd-9c32f582a422_rw_3840.jpg?h=2c286c4418168cea995e53e74e6fe765)
On the roof
![Close up of Fledgling kea](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/59c0a9bc-748e-4e0a-aceb-d06452e2bbc1_rw_3840.jpg?h=7f4457fcb187617670aa0559414c76df)
Up close and personal
![Fledgling kea](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/9f7915f0-2cad-47d8-9f3d-a0f3f1c8e277_rw_3840.jpg?h=8b6ffd285502519e4496918fccfcfe83)
He's enjoying this
![Close up of fledgling kea](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/861229c4-e3cf-444b-acfa-f210246d05b4_rw_3840.jpg?h=4d70a6999a3f387bb93f7be3baa15dbe)
Attempted roof destruction
![Fledgeling kea](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/99247109-9459-4bd5-b8e9-70c5ddd38397_rw_3840.jpg?h=08b2e632cb03c6df34baee61842f55f9)
Cutie
![Black and white photo of a kea in a tree](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/4c1b92db-b747-4f88-8fbb-f7411a4d742a_rw_3840.jpg?h=58a688eb8e579081977e05c749e63366)
A kea in a tree
![View of Matukituki Valley from Aspiring Hut](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/0118b296-e65c-49e4-848e-84cf3e98b937_rw_3840.jpg?h=03cfb33f2704f164b69c75c97d89b63c)
Stunning view looking up the valley from Aspiring Hut
![View of Mt Aspiring/Tititea](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/6a7273b3-dec0-40c8-85fa-e319752611bc_rw_3840.jpg?h=bb4a6385551f6fab181aaa9ef74fb851)
Mt Aspiring/Tititea
![Upper Matukituki Valley](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/d194f71b-3e47-405e-8325-1f1f6d677bf0_rw_3840.jpg?h=8a76218360d6b1a11a61f9e9ec104684)
Upper Matukituki Valley
![Liverpool Hut, Matukituki Valley](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/34e3e90a-9d9d-4450-bc83-b70f9c0c8d44_rw_3840.jpg?h=ce6bf081913947017e8049f83bafb5e5)
View of Liverpool Hut