South Island NZ Dabchick breeding?

Bird sighting information. Use this forum to report bird sightings (especially rare and unusual birds), census and field count results, and trip reports. Messages posted to this forum will also be sent as a plain text email to the BIRDING-NZ newsgroup.
User avatar
Michael Szabo
Posts: 2529
Joined: Sun May 08, 2011 12:30 pm
Contact:

South Island NZ Dabchick breeding?

Postby Michael Szabo » Wed Oct 16, 2019 8:58 am

Has anyone seen if NZ Dabchicks are breeding again at Taylor Dam in Marlborough and Lake Killarney in Takaka this breeding season?
'Birds New Zealand' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Birdsnewzealand
Bill F Cash
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:27 pm

Re: South Island NZ Dabchick breeding?

Postby Bill F Cash » Wed Oct 16, 2019 3:19 pm

HI ,
Does the photo below answer your question. Taken today at the Taylor Dam Marlborough, actually about an hour ago.
There are infact two pair on the Taylor Dam at present.
Cheers Bill.
DSC03697.jpg
DSC03697.jpg (1.08 MiB) Viewed 1878 times
G Martyn
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 3:42 pm

Re: South Island NZ Dabchick breeding?

Postby G Martyn » Thu Oct 17, 2019 7:29 am

Neat picture Bill!
Graeme Martyn
Nelson
User avatar
Michael Szabo
Posts: 2529
Joined: Sun May 08, 2011 12:30 pm
Contact:

Re: South Island NZ Dabchick breeding?

Postby Michael Szabo » Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:06 am

Thanks for the update Bill - did you see if both pairs had young by any chance please?
'Birds New Zealand' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Birdsnewzealand
David Melville
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2009 3:45 pm

Re: South Island NZ Dabchick breeding?

Postby David Melville » Thu Oct 17, 2019 2:43 pm

I'm not sure about Takaka, but I had a single bird on a pond beside Kelling Road, Upper Moutere recently (also a Coot).
David
Bill F Cash
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:27 pm

Re: South Island NZ Dabchick breeding?

Postby Bill F Cash » Fri Oct 18, 2019 11:19 am

Hi ,
Uncertain if both have chicks. Usually in the early afternoon the dabchick keep there distance and move off quickly but both pairs were very close and both pairs remained close. Very reluctant to move. The pair with the chick( uncertain if more than one, as just one popped its head out). were busy feeding. The other pair acted very territorial, one of that pair kept very close to the reeds and I didn;t get really good observations of that one, so maybe. If the weather improves I will visit the Dam again today to check.
Cheers Bill

Return to “Bird Sightings and Alerts”