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Speaker: Vote Grey Warbler

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  • Jeremy Andrew,

    You can make a nice soup with a Pukeko - you put it in a pot of water with a stone...

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    The dog (gravatar) surprises pukekoes in our orchard all the time. I didn't know they could fly! They certainly can when they need to.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Hill,

    A pandemonium of our native birds? What good news.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 11 posts Report Reply

  • Brent Jackson,

    Heh. I just discovered the Grey Warbler this year. Camping at Wenderholm with lots of trilling little birds of fantail size (but not plumpness). Wasn't sure what they were at the time, but looked them up as soon as I got home. I've been bush-walking since I was in primary school, but I don't recall encountering them before. I wonder if they've not been so common in the north ?

    Well-deserved bird of the year though.

    I also think the Ruru (morepork) is under-recognised as well. Perhaps next year's candidate ?

    Brent.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report Reply

  • Kim Griggs,

    What, no mention on the list of our champion aviator the bar-tailed godwit? For pluck and determination, you can't go past it.

    Here's where it flies, literally on a wing, prayer and a very plump body
    http://www.werc.usgs.gov/sattrack/shorebirds/overall.html

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • Richard C,

    What, no mention on the list of our champion aviator the bar-tailed godwit? For pluck and determination, you can't go past it.

    Agreed: vote Kuaka! About ten days go (and much to our delight) we happened on a pair of them, recently returned to our local Waiheke beach. Like what that Ted Hughes had to say about Swifts:

    "They've made it again...the globe's still working."

    Waiheke Island • Since Oct 2007 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Hill,

    Yes, the Bar-Tailed Godwit is an impressive athlete. World record holder for non-stop flying distance. Alaska to NZ non-stop. Makes Steve Gurney seem downright lazy. It is encouraging that a festival of the Godwit (their return) in Christchurch is developing into quite an event. At least that's what I'm told. Ted Hughes' phrase is most applicable.

    I am stunned that the BTG hasn't summoned more support this year as so many have been tagged with radio thingummys and their return came with some fanfare this year. E7 (female) was the first to land in NZ and she took of from the TOP of Alaska. Didn't even bother to fuel up in the south of the state. Incredible.

    Yet still... the GW is ours, and all ours. We don't have to share them with the Eskimos. Ha!

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 11 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    __Tui are the gangland thugs of the bird world, and it's ALL their patch, according to them.__

    Apparently they will drive off magpies.

    My friends live in Melrose, overlooking the zoo, and in recent years, the tuis have come over from the sanctuary and done just that: kicked magpie ass and cleared them out. Definitely an improvement.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I am a huge, huge fan of the riroriro/grey warbler. I am very pleased to see that other people like it too!

    When I was living overseas, that was the birdsong I missed the most, and I never knew what that bird was called until I came home and looked it up. It's the most evocative birdsong - it just sounds like 'home' to me.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    When I was living overseas, that was the birdsong I missed the most, and I never knew what that bird was called until I came home and looked it up. It's the most evocative birdsong - it just sounds like 'home' to me.

    I second that - it is powerfully evocative. And relatively common in suburban west Auckland of late. One visited my backyard yesterday, possibly to thank me for my vote earlier in the day. Talk about "blink and you miss them" though.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Hill,

    Has anybody else noticed what bird is coming in dead last in the Forest & Bird form guide illustration? I think that bird might just be the GW. Take a look.

    http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/poll.asp

    If it isn't the GW then it has to be the North Island Robin, meaning that the GW isn't even illustrated!

    That's just the sort of prejudice that we at the CTETGWBOTY2007 have to put up with.

    Sigh... it's just another form of racism!

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 11 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    Sitting in my home in suburban Wellington, I just heard a pïpïwharauroa (shining cuckoo) - the riroriro better look out!

    Thank you, Karori Sanctuary.

    My family always listens for the pïpïwharauroa as spring arrives, and you get bragging rights when you hear the first one.

    So, spring must be here, despite the biting cold wind and the HAIL that has also been around my home in suburban Wellington today.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Hill,

    NEWSFLASH.

    The Forest and Bird "Bird Of The Year 2007" will be announced first on Radio Live at approximately 1:50pm this Saturday. I think voting must close around mid-day Saturday.

    The on air host at that time will be a very nervous Graeme Hill along with, by sheer fluke, your Public Address host, Russell Brown!

    The announcement will come live from Forest & Bird Communications & Media person, Helen Bain after crunching the numbers on her laptop.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 11 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Won't that make her keyboard hard to use?

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    kicked magpie ass and cleared them out.

    It's been years since I've seen a magpie at Magpie Lawn. Tui, kereru & kaka in numbers, but no magpies.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    the tuis have come over from the sanctuary and done just that: kicked magpie ass and cleared them out.

    To risk crossing the streams - that sounds like Tame Iti's dream for the Tuhoe.

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • AndrewD,

    I also think the Ruru (morepork) is under-recognised as well. Perhaps next year's candidate ?

    Come now! The old morepork gets all the gigs on TV ads. The evocative call at the end as you digest the kicker or the quizzical expression of bamboozled human. If the director needs a night scene then out comes the Ruru.

    No Kakapo it is. The bird that sounds like the world champion Coke bottle flute blower

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 54 posts Report Reply

  • Kim Griggs,

    Okay, we do have to share the kuaka with the Alaskans but as Kim (of Love is...) or someone of that vintage (proabbly someone working for Hallmark) said

    "If you love some body, let them go. If they return, they were always yours...."

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Hosking,

    ""...and if they don't return, HUNT THEM DOWN AND KILL THEM" -

    Saw that on a bumper sticker once. Probably the only bumper sticker that ever made me laugh.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Kim Griggs,

    Rob, not related to Walter Buller by any chance???

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • lisa west,

    Whilst we do have a grey warbler here who visits daily (I assume he/she is nesting), for me it's the saddleback this year.
    I have an excellent action shot I took of a kea up at treble cone, but they are an easy target for photographers, as they like to stay relatively stationary for long periods whilst destroying things. Bellbirds are trickier, and kaka very easy, especially the kaka on Stewart Island who like to be handfed bananas and crackers.

    Auckland • Since Oct 2007 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    ""...and if they don't return, HUNT THEM DOWN AND KILL THEM" -

    Saw that on a bumper sticker once. Probably the only bumper sticker that ever made me laugh.

    Entirely off topic, but the only bumper sticker to make me laugh was one I saw in Pennsylvania.

    It had a Confederate Flag with a slash through it, accompanied by the words: "You lost. Get over it."

    Heh!

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • daleaway,

    "If the director needs a night scene then out comes the Ruru."

    Darn right. They learned their craft at the knee of masters.
    The lovely Mr Daleaway and I have been amusing ourselves for years identifying Bird Noise Cliches in BBC drama productions.

    Daytime semi-rural summer scenes: Invisible Brit pigeon. Peru, peru.
    All nighttime scenes: invisible generic owl, hu hu hu hooo. (Plus one standard fox cough.)
    Stately homes garden scenes: invisible peacocks, screech.
    Midsomer Norton type crime mysteries, when suspense is needed: crows, croak.

    They make less use of seagulls than you might expect.

    Since Jul 2007 • 198 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Hill,

    Seagulls? Onedin Line.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 11 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    OK all. Armed with inspiration from this thread, and a $40 voucher, I am now the proud owner of this

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

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