tinytawnykitten Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 I was sitting outside in the spa last night at about 11pm (I live in Wellington suburbia) and heard two birds calling to each other which were definitely not moreporks. I listened for a while and came inside and looked up some bird calls on NZbirds.com and I can only conclude that these birds were Little Spotted Kiwi. DoC assures me that this is not possible as there are none outside the Karori Sanctuary in the Wellington Region. I am about a ten minute drive from the Sanctuary but Tinakori Hill stands between me and the Sanctuary so I don't believe for a second I was hearing these from there. What other native or non-native birds do we have in New Zealand which would call at that time of night? There was another sort of a yip yip yip noise afterwards too, (which freaked me out and sent me running inside!) but these were all definitely bird calls I am certain of it. Any clues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Your wonderfully detailed description of their call was very helpful in narrowing the possibilities down. :lol: As for birds that would be calling about that time the first handful that come to mind are moreporks, tuis, woodpigeons, those black birds(I don't know their names), magpies, peacocks and frogs. Tuis and I think magpies are very good parrots too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 i have pukeko & squawker birds (spur winged plover) in the surrounding paddocks that like to create a racket at night but neither of those sound like the kiwi call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danval Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 I know the morepork has a call, a bit like a screech which sounds nothing like the typical "morepork call". Could be this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Your wonderfully detailed description of their call was very helpful in narrowing the possibilities down. :lol: What didn't you like my yip yip yip? I guess it could have been a chihuahua. The main calls I heard sounded EXACTLY like this (click on the bird call link on the right) http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/kiwils.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunrise001 Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 sounds like shags to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 sounds like shags to me ever seen a duck fly backwards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Ever seen a supermarket egg hatch? -.- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunrise001 Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Hi TTK It is possible you were hearing frogs? Was it a regular call? If not it may be a daytime bird being startled by a rat or possum etc, just a thought. Maybe contact DOC and mention that you heard it. They may be interested or may be able to tell you what it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malevolentsparkle Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 if you live near a kiwi sanctuary then maybe it was another bird mimicking a kiwi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danval Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 As Supasi said, Maybe a frog? http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/frogs/3/1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 What didn't you like my yip yip yip? I guess it could have been a chihuahua. The main calls I heard sounded EXACTLY like this (click on the bird call link on the right) http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/kiwils.html I think, from your description, you have these... I think there's a frog that sounds a lot like that kiwi recording, and a few other birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Its the right time of year for frogs to become more vocal. Off topic but I found one at the beach the other night. I dunno how the hell it got there but it was in the sand where the only nearby water was the river mouth which is brackish. Im stumped. I tried to catch it but I was too slow. Was a Southern Bell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 any forestry blocks near the beach? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 you have pukeko around there? there are puk chicks about, maybe one got lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 any forestry blocks near the beach? Was right here. http://maps.google.co.nz/?ie=UTF8&ll=-3 ... 3&t=h&z=18 Nowhere near fresh water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 out of it. long shot but maybe from someones backyard pond. or a pet. ive always been surprised how close to the beach they are sometimes found in forestry block ponds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 I have listened to the frogs and the kiwi call and I swear swear swear it was a kiwi. I shall put it out of my head and get on with my life. Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 If you wanna talk to the kiwi lady here at DoC in Welly, then PM with a number she can call you on and I'll forward it to her I have listened to the frogs and the kiwi call and I swear swear swear it was a kiwi. I shall put it out of my head and get on with my life. Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbird73 Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 We had a nest of blackbirds in our eaves once and the baby birds calling to the mother sounded just like this. I would think that many baby birds could sound like this.... penguins? :lol: I would think there would be too many dogs and cats around in wgtn to get kiwi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbird73 Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 another thought - spur winged plover? they make a loud sound that could be described maybe as yip yip yip http://www.avianweb.com/maskedlapwings.html couldn't find their call anywhere online tho, but apparently they have a variety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danval Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 People don't often hear or know the other sounds a morepork can make. Slightly similar to the Kiwi call? http://www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz/Sounds/morepork.mp3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted October 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 People don't often hear or know the other sounds a morepork can make. Slightly similar to the Kiwi call? http://www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz/Sounds/morepork.mp3 Fantastic!!!!! That is it! Not a kiwi after all. How disappointing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danval Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 Still nice to know you have these in your area as I very rarely hear them in Hamilton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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