A rare native duck, the pateke has an estimated 1000 birds remaining in the wild.

It browses on plants and insects, usually feeding at night. As well as browsing on aquatic plant and insect material, they like picking over a damp forest floor. This pair were actively feeding during the day and were one pair of 3 pairs we saw in this wildlife sanctuary (Karori Wildlife Sanctuary - http://www.sanctuary.org.nz/).

The light conditions were partly cloudy, but more cloudy than partly, with a light breeze. The photo was shot toward the main light source in daylight, so as to give a reflective effect on the surface of the water (which was quite clear) and thereby emphasising the two birds.

And curves - curves from the water where they have "ducked" their head below the water, from the shape of the ducks heads and backs, on their plumage, their eyes - it is amazing how much curvaceousness there really is in nature