Zealandia calls id request

[Jim Kirker]

Recorded last week, early afternoon at the lower dam. I was considering Weka for 125714-1 and Hihi for 114856-0. Weka not reported there on ebird since 2018, so unlikely - maybe a Kaka calling, there were plenty there and noisy. The Hihi possibility could have been a Bellbird, but the call does resemble the double call, so I'm hopeful. Opinions please

[simon.fordham]

125714 is little spotted kiwi. The first is a female, followed by a quieter male. There is also a bellbird call. It is interesting that kiwi should be calling at that time of day. Could it have been a recording?

114856 is the 'chip' call of a North Island saddleback.

Hope that helps!
Simon

[Jim Kirker]

Thanks for this Simon, very helpful. I have emailed Zealandia asking if they knew whether a recording was played at the time I heard it and will post any reply. I suppose it could also have been another visitor or volunteer using playback, something to bear in mind I guess, especially in places like Zealandia.
Cheers, Jim

[Colin Miskelly]

About 200 m into Zealandia, visitors encounter 'Bird Song Gully', where they can push a button and hear (loud) calls of half a dozen species found in the valley, including little spotted kiwi. I often hear them while counting Atlas transects outside the perimeter fence - but never note them down

[Jim Kirker]

That's where I recorded the call. I'd stopped to record a bellbird and just then this loud unfamiliar call, so mystery solved. Good for a laugh and now wondering about those bellbird calls

[Jim Kirker]

Message from Ellen at Zealandia. " Thanks for your email. We have an area (‘Birdsong gully’) very close to the lower dam where visitors can play bird calls, including little spotted kiwi calls, so I suspect it would have been that! "

[AlfieB77]

That’s got me confused a few times too.