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Re: Long tailed cuckoo locations

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 12:30 pm
by Michael Szabo
I have discussed the LTC translocation idea with Michael Anderson (using Little Barrier Island as the source). He pointed out that locating a single LTC egg is extremely difficult, let alone a group of them.

Re: Long tailed cuckoo locations

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 2:08 pm
by Jim_j
I imagine you would have to make use of new technology.
Monitor 20-30 whitehead nests with cameras and use bird recognition software to identify LTC visits.
Would also give a good indication of the level of parasitism
I don't know if there is any research (I doubt it) on whether there is a specific window of time as to when LTC eggs have to be introduced to Whitehard nests.
I imagine a first step would be to band or fit tracking devices to confirm that LTC do in fact return to their place of birth...
I think somewhere like Kapiti or Mt Bruce would be an easier option than LBI....
All in all an expensive exercise....!

cheers
Jim

Re: Long tailed cuckoo locations

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:47 pm
by Nikki McArthur
I've recently finished reading Nick Davies' book on European cuckoos (can highly recommend: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/cuckoo-9781408856567/), which was probably the source of inspiration behind my earlier post.

In this book the author describes a number of clever tricks that he'd developed to predict where and when female cuckoos would parasitise host nests - getting to the point where he could predict both the nest in which a particular cuckoo would lay in, and on what day. Admittedly though, this work was carried out in a fen wetland (host nests were easily accessible) and a lot more is known about the breeding biology of the European cuckoo, but nonetheless they showed it was possible, albeit with a lot of time and perseverance!

Re: Long tailed cuckoo locations

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 11:02 am
by Jim_j
Thanks Nikki - looks a very interesting read.

cheers
Jim

Re: Long tailed cuckoo locations

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 8:46 pm
by ledzep
Interesting discussion but not sure if anyone answered Ben's initial question. Where are the best spots for Long-tailed Cuckoo in Lower North Island? Boundary Stream is good in Hawke's Bay, but closer to Wellington, Kapiti Island is a good spot. There seem to be one or two around Upper Hutt Stokes Valley area, but the summit on Rimutaka Hill (eg walk up to the trig) is a good spot to hear them calling over summer. I have also heard them in the bush up Kapiti coast (eg Mt Wainui Whararoa farm area) and Kiriwhakapapa near Mt Bruce in the Wairarapa. Hearing them is a lot easier than seeing them.

Re: Long tailed cuckoo locations

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 1:08 pm
by Ben Volpicelli
Thanks ledzep, I will have to truy out some of those locations! The info has been very interesting. Thankyou everyone.

Re: Long tailed cuckoo locations

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 1:25 pm
by Roblyn
I’ve also heard them on the Butterfly Creek Walk, Eastbourne.

Re: Long tailed cuckoo locations

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 4:05 pm
by Nikki McArthur
I've found the McKerrow Track in the southern Remutaka FP to be a really good area for LTCs as well. Can be accessed via the Catchpool Valley, or the Sunny Grove Track in Wainuiomata.