4 Sulphur-crested Cockies near Hamilton

[RussCannings]

Hi all,

While I understand a small population of cockatoos remains in the pine forests north of Raglan, I haven't come across any in the Hamilton/Cambridge area since moving here 8 months ago. Therefore in case it's notable--there were 4 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos foraging in a plowed field on the northeast side of State Hwy 1, just on the Hamilton side of the village of Tamahere (Between Hamilton and Cambridge). This was in the afternoon of Aug 30 (Sunday). There's a new overpass at Pickering Road where an artificial pond has been put in right beside the highway. The field is just 600m toward Hamilton from that spot.

Tuis are loving the blooming cherry trees around. So far the best concentration is at Te Ko Utu Lake (Cambridge Domain) where I counted 31+ in a single tree

Still no Shining Cuckoos singing around here but I would imagine they're not far off.

Happy spring!

Russ Cannings
Cambridge, NZ

[Michael]

Never heard of that before.

Those artificial ponds by roadsides are a good send for us birders. So far in the Waikato I have seen Pied Stilt, Paradise Shelduck, Grey Teal, Australasian Harrier, huge flocks of Welcome Swallows and the usual suspects benefiting from them, so they are definately worth the farmers paddock they occupy.

[KiwiDan]

While growing up in TeKowhai around 25 years ago, myself and my father remember counting a large flock of these in a large row of pines (which have since been cut down) behind the TeKowhai tennis courts. In the last couple of years i have seen a single specimen flying, near the turn off to TeMata and a group of 3 on farmland near TeMata.

[David Riddell]

While growing up in TeKowhai around 25 years ago, myself and my father remember counting a large flock of these in a large row of pines (which have since been cut down) behind the TeKowhai tennis courts.

Yes, there used to be quite a few cockatoos out west of Hamilton. I vaguely remember from my time as Waikato regional recorder someone reporting a flock of about that size from around Te Kowhai way, would've been about that time - would that have been you? I once saw a couple at the southern end of the Hakarimatas along the Waingaro Rd, but that was the only time I encountered them personally.

Just looked at Classified Summarised Notes for 1991-92, and found this:

"Waingaro, about 12 in December (HGS), locals report considerable trapping effort directed at this species. Te Kowhai, Ngaruawahia Rd intersection, several in gum tree on 19/4 (PDB). L Rotokauri, 8 on 19/3 (per DJR). Horsham Downs, several around 12/5, visiting walnut tree to feed on nuts, flying off to NW (PJT)."

So they really were a regular part of the landscape back then, haven't heard any mention of them in years though, until now. The comment about trapping is interesting, maybe they were cleaned out for the pet trade. Don't think the Te Kowhai report for that year is the one I'm thinking of, but don't have time to dig further just now.

[RussCannings]

Well this is rather embarrassing but I now believe that my initial identification of the cockatoos mentioned above was erroneous. I viewed 4 pure-white cockatoo-sized birds foraging in a field while passing by at highway speed. Their colour, jizz, and behaviour seemed consistent with SC Cockatoos and I hadn't seen any birds like them in the area previously despite driving this stretch of road a lot. At ~80m naked eye, this was obviously not sufficient as since this observation, I have been able to confirm that there is a small flock of large white doves using the same field. They are larger than rock pigeons. are pure white, and favour the same fields. On my initial sighting I could have sworn I even saw a crest but my subsequent doves seem like too much of a coincidence to trigger a "two flock" theory.

Sorry for the false alarm--I clearly need to sharpen my drive-by ID skills!

Russ

p.s. In other local news I got out early this morning (pre-dawn) for some craking with the best stop being the boardwalk at the south end of Lake Ngoroto where I had 3 Marsh Crakes and 2 Spotless Crakes respond to taped calls. Alas, no bitterns detected...

[Ian Southey]

In the 1970s and 80s there were quite a few White Cockatoos south of the Waikato River. In winter they could often be seen feeding on the pine trees on the north side of the river mouth. I clearly remember walking in there once and seeing a flock of about 150 birds flying out in front of me. In winter they also used to wander, often as flocks, and I remember a couple of noisy flocks of 20-30 coming through our farm between Puni and Mauku - but that's over a 30 year period.

There don't seem to be as many there now and it seems like the bird trappers are much more effective than they used to be - or else they are suffering from the same problems as the native hole nesting species. There may not be so many of them now but I see no reason why their wandering ways should have changed.

Ian

[David Riddell]

In other local news I got out early this morning (pre-dawn) for some craking with the best stop being the boardwalk at the south end of Lake Ngoroto where I had 3 Marsh Crakes and 2 Spotless Crakes respond to taped calls.

The only marsh crake I ever saw was at the south end of Lake Ngaroto, I think that was in 2000. Good to know it wasn't just a passing individual.

[Paul G]

Well this is rather embarrassing but I now believe that my initial identification of the cockatoos mentioned above was erroneous. Sorry for the false alarm--I clearly need to sharpen my drive-by ID skills! Russ

Russ Cannings, top man! Thanks so much for the amendment mate. I hope you realise that standing-up and correcting
an error like you just did, actually enhances your reputation and reliability. You're an absolute legend for admitting the mistake and correcting the record. A few more of us could perhaps benefit from the same ethics.

There have been several previous examples where reputable people have mistakenly reported a bird, allowing others to expend large amounts of time and money travelling to see a so-called rarity, because the finder was too ashamed to
withdraw a mis-identification in case it diminished their 'mana'. Not you, though.

The self-effacing and objective way in which you examine your own bird reports is reminiscent of New Zealand 'greats'
like Dick Sibson and Ross MacKenzie. It's the way we should all do it.

[GrahameNZ]

Russ.
A little of topic but can you point me to the sound files that you are using for the Crakes ?
Have had a few tries at Travis, ChCh.
But not sure if we are using the correct call.
Both species of Crake have been seen there.
A "cough" is the most interesting reply so far.
Would be interested to hear the correct call, I have a suspicion the alarm call is being used

[RussCannings]

Hi Grahame,

I just use the recordings on the Scofield/Stephenson "Birds of NZ" app, which I think come from the most commonly used set of NZ recordings. There isn't a huge variety and the quality of the bittern and Marsh (Baillon's) Crake calls are quite poor, but for the most part they seem to do the trick. You can access a much larger database of free recordings at xeno-canto.org

Typically with Spotless Crakes you won't get much more than a single-syllable "chick!" though I have had a few males respond with the full alarm-clock territorial call. I've only knowingly heard 5 Marsh Crakes since moving to NZ and only one used a single-note call similar to Spotless. Most of them did the classic chuckle and/or comb-ticking calls. If you have no idea what I mean by that I can try and find some links to show them (currently on my mobile which makes anything beyond a simple text reply cumbersome).

I'm sure there will be others on the forum with a lot more experience with these species than me, so perhaps you'll get more info that way. If anyone needs to know anything about Virginia Rails or Sora---well those I know VERY well!

Russ