BirdingNZ.net

Just heard our first for the season. East Tamaki Heights, Auckland.

In DoC Flagstaff bush reserve just to north Russell, Northland.
First call morning 21 September 2018.
Over the last 10 years mid September seems usual for first call in this reserve.
I would have expected a record of first song moving from north to south, but maybe not so.
Saw a bird flying with the jizz of a Shining cuckoo on 18 September, so it is possible bird may arrive well before first song?

Cheers Weka,

I've often wondered about their migration strategy. It always seems that one is reported in August by someone then nothing for a couple weeks then random reports all around the country and by the first week if October they're everywhere. I would guess that legitimate August detections are overwintering birds. Presumably these birds are leaving the wintering grounds under favourable wind conditions as opposed to instinctual day-light triggers like longer-distance insectivors? Then they might fly nearly direct to their breeding grounds which could explain the lack of an arrival pattern. It's also not like we're really coordinating detection efforts. It would be interesting to compare nocturnal flight call survey data from say the Kaitaia area to that of the Tararuas or further south (in terms if first detection and frequency).

Still cuckooless in Morrinsville!

Russ

Russ

Some background reading

http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_ ... 05730.html

https://www.notornis.osnz.org.nz/system ... is_6_4.pdf go to p. 121.

https://www.notornis.osnz.org.nz/system ... is_5_6.pdf go to p. 192

I'm sure there's more

Ian

Just heard first one here this spring. South of Pirongia.

Heard first shining for the season in Ngunguru this morning

Cheers Ian,

Thanks for doing the work for me! Will have to look into LTs as well.

Went out to Te Aroha yesterday and patrolled the totara groves along the Paiko/Morrinsville greenbelt today. Still no cuckoos! 7 broods of Grey Teal at Howarth Memorial Wetlands and a nest building bellbird at the Te Aroha domain were neat spring consolations.

Just heard first one for this Spring, Tikokino, Central Hawkes' Bay

Still none heard in Pukerua Bay and none heard over a 3 hour walk at Zealandia today - had heard them by now last year.

cheers
Jim

There was a photo posted on Facebook of one at Zealandia yesterday, they could still be silent there at the moment.