Long-tailed cuckoos 2025-26

[Neil Fitzgerald]

A non-sighting. No koekoeā heard at Pureora on Tuesday. Hopefully they are not far away.
Please post here when you start hearing them.
Also, I am again after dead and injured LTC to get DNA samples from. I got a few last year and hoping to get more when they return from migration. Please, if you find an injured long-tailed cuckoo, call 0800 DOC HOT or take it to your trusted native bird rescue and let me know asap. If it's dead, please freeze asap and let me know. And spread the word!
Thanks
Neil

[Neil Fitzgerald]

I got a single ping from a tagged long-tailed cuckoo on Hauturu on Monday evening. Have just heard there are lots calling around the bunkhouse now.

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Heard secondhand today that koekoeā have returned to Pukeiti, Taranaki.

[Neil Fitzgerald]

A bird tagged at Pureora last summer that wintered in the Lau islands of Fiji is on its way back. At 6:13 this evening was halfway between Fiji and New Caledonia, about to get on the gentle tail wind flowing down to us.

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Heard one close today at Pukeiti, Taranaki. Not the first here but the first I have personally heard this season.

[Neil Fitzgerald]

The tagged Pureora bird was back there at Waipapa this afternoon. Migration complete.

[Jim Kirker]

Just heard the rattling call, end of Kiko road, Kaimanawa forest park.

[Jim Kirker]

Heard one early this afternoon on the road to Waihora lagoon Pureora, about 1km east of the lagoon. Several shrieks followed by pe pe pe calls.

[Sam Moynan]

One calling around 9pm last night, near farewell spit.

[Neil Fitzgerald]

More coming. A Pureora bird that wintered on Vava'u left this morning and is already well on the way home. If it keeps up this pace it might be back tomorrow.