Pukeko amongst the reeds

I had a late afternoon walk around Western Springs Lake. The feeder lakes/ponds were dry, and the level of the lake was lower than the last time I had been here by almost a half metre. It's a big lake so the fall in level is not of itself a problem. But the amount of weed around the edges, and possibly an algal bloom, are not good.

Some of the scummy state of the lake is that many people go there to throw bread to the birds. There are many notices asking people to not feed the birds in the water, but that happens all the time (many do comply and only feed the birds on land). Of bread thrown in the water, much sinks before being eaten, and that's a source of enrichment of the water.

This pukeko was balancing on top of a clump of reeds, and remained in pose for me.