Obviously incorrect reports on eBird

[SomesBirder]

I have started this thread for reporting eBird reports from New Zealand that are obviously incorrect.
For starters, this 2016 trip report from Zealandia includes the North Island kokako:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50929421

[Nikki McArthur]

Hi SomesBirder,

This is an excellent idea, thanks for starting this thread. eBird's volunteer reviewers do their best to intercept these records, but many still do fall through the cracks. It really helps when other eBird users point these records out to us - the eBird website itself doesn't currently have this facility at the moment (except for observations with photos attached) so starting this thread is an excellent second-best option.

By pasting in a link to the checklist in question (as you've done), you've made it really quick and easy for any eBird reviewer checking this thread to locate the dodgy observation in question, and to review it. In the case of this NI kokako observation, I've now placed it 'under review', so it should now have disappeared from eBird's distribution maps etc.

Please keep these reports coming!
Best wishes,
Nikki

[philbattley]

2 Blue Duck on the edge of Lake Taupo is likely a typo.

https://ebird.org/atlasnz/view/checklist/S58893630

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Hmm. Lots of blue ducks are on the Tongariro River flowing in to the lake. It's not impossible.

[SomesBirder]

It's an old report, but this list includes Ring-necked Doves, whereas the user obviously should have reported the birds as Barbary Doves: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S20495526
Ring-necked Doves (Streptopelia capicola) do not exist in New Zealand.
This report of Little/Least Tern shouldn't stay, either: https://ebird.org/newzealand/view/checklist/S40770879

[philbattley]

Hmm. Lots of blue ducks are on the Tongariro River flowing in to the lake. It's not impossible.

There was a report to DOC about a year ago of someone out fishing in the middle of the lake saying they had a whio beside their boat. Turns out they were right, and the bird jumped up on board for a photo. It was a hand-reared, maladjusted bird. But two whio on the SW corner of Lake Taupo should need verification to be accepted.
Phil

[zarkov]

They're common on the Tongariro now.

Maybe it's a young pair just passing through, looking for new habitat.

[tim]

Yes blue duck have been reported on Lake Taupo quite a few times, lakes are part of there natural range.

[RussCannings]

Thanks guys, have reached out to the observer of the Blue Ducks for more info and have addressed the doves and tern. Cheers.

[SomesBirder]

I doubt that anything can be done to address it now, but here's an old report of a Stitchbird on the Poor Knights Islands: https://ebird.org/newzealand/view/checklist/S40313700