BIRD OF THE MOMENT The Weka

BIRD OF THE MOMENT THE WEKA The most common flightless bird in the Park can sometimes be mistaken by the uninitiated for Kiwi. These sturdy brown birds are also known as woodhen and can be seen scavenging for food around camp sites.

In fact, Weka are accomplished burglars and will snatch food from the unsuspecting at lightning speeds. They are also cheeky enough to burrow through tents and tramping packs until they locate and steal the good stuff after which they will dart into the nearest batch of bush.

Weka have an extremely funky walking motion, the imitation of which can result in hours of fun. Their necks bob forward as they walk, then they will stop to gaze from side to side before resuming the neck bobbing. They just look sneaky.

Weka are a large flightless rail with red eyes, a strong pointed reddish to greyish bill, red strong legs and variable plumage ranging in colour from greyish and mid-brown to chestnut brown and almost black.

They have spacing calls generally given at dawn (usually timed just as you are drifting back to sleep in your tent) and in the half hour after sunset. They are a characteristic coo..eet given as a duet by members of a pair, with the male call lower and slower than the female. Other calls include booming, and soft clucking contact calls.

Young Weka squabble over a meal.

Weka numbers have increased dramatically over the past few years in the Abel Tasman and they are not considered to be a threatened species. Info: nzbirdsonline.org