Obviously incorrect reports on eBird

[simon.fordham]

I also assume mis ids considering no comments, the Tiritiri Matangi birds I also believe are just erronous ids by tourists, with although some observations having photos I find it more likely to be people forgetting where they were as theres absolutely no mention of the birds online.

Not the case with the Tiri birds, paradoxdinokipi. There was a bird on the Island for 18 years, disappearing 15-20 years ago. The story went that it was likely dumped there in the '80s. I heard this bird calling on many occasions, usually at night, and saw it once in Wattle Valley. Then, some time around 10 years ago, a visitor reported seeing one on the Island, and had a video to prove it. I don't know what happened to this individual (the bird, not the visitor), but it was never seen again

[paradoxdinokipi]

Wow, did not know that thank you so much! I'd have thought that at least an article or something along those lines would pop up when I searched for Weka on Tiri as there's usually a lot of information on the island, bird translocations... But I suppose not! [Although I assume quite a few of the more recent ones are still erronous]

Would it perhaps be related to this observation on iNaturalist?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107165157

[simon.fordham]

That is possibly the same record I referred to as 'about 10 years ago', although I can find no record in any Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi publications or emails from 2012.

[Cathymitch]

Regarding weka at Bream Head. We own a property at Ocean Beach, adjacent to BH Reserve, and have lived here full time since 2014. I have not seen or heard weka here in that time - but of course not going to say there are none here on that basis.
The trail cam photo was from a camera set up to monitor a GFP breeding site at the end of the BH peninsula - very steep terrain a 1-hour scramble from the main track! The study site was set up in 2016 and trail cameras have been used up there ever since, at least during the breeding season. Monitoring has been more intense in the past 2-3 years with 6 cameras set up year-round. In addition, the Reserve is also monitored with Predator Free 2050 cameras, set up throughout the Reserve and serviced regularly. The photo I posted to eBIrd (Dec 2022) is the only on-camera weka detection at BH - quite a surprise and not what you want to see at a seabird breeding site!
I seem to recall that a month or two after that camera detection, one was picked up on a PDF2050 camera at Taurikura Ridge, approx 5km from the GFP site - waiting on confirmation of this. I also heard from a local that he had heard that a weka/wekas were released some time ago at Parua Bay, approx. 20km from the GFP site, but unfortunately he can't remember much more about it.
Will let you know if I get any more info...

[paradoxdinokipi]

Alright wow thanks! I suppose it's more likely that random people are just liberating wekas in random places rather than genuine dispersal?

[Neil Fitzgerald]

I wouldn't say that. While there has surely been some illegal (maybe accidental) moving of weka (South Is birds in the North Island, for instance), they are known to be great dispersers. This is probably a big part of the reason most translocations of weka have failed, which suggests that birds popping up in random places are probably doomed, or at least won't establish.

[paradoxdinokipi]

https://ebird.org/checklist/S186885816
Pacific Golden Plover at an urban park, I'd highly doubt the ider got it correct

https://ebird.org/checklist/S60855031
https://ebird.org/checklist/S146064885
Kiwi and Fernbird also reported at Western Springs

[Mike Bickerdike]

A claim of 400 Terek Sandpipers on a sports field in the BOP brought a smile.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S202855336

[Jan]

Very odd sighting. Godwits perhaps?

[BerndHuss]

He says he's got photos. Let's see them