Belmont Hills, Lower Hutt, Wellington

Ferngirl · New Member Joined: Nov 24, 2008 Posts: 2

Yesterday, I saw what I believe to be a Kakariki in my garden in Belmont. It was mostly bright green with a red top, and slightly yellow breast. We also have Rosellas, but it was definitely not a Rosella, it looked slightly bigger and what drew me to look for it was the different call. The WRC have been doing intensive pest baiting in the surrounding area for a number of years in Speedy's Creek and in Park Road Reserve. I live between those two areas. I'll keep a lookout for it and keep my camera on hand and see if I can get a picture to post.
Cheers, Beth

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

Thankyou for the sighting
The "slightly yellow breast" brings into question being a kakariki thu
If/when you see it again, try to hear its call, very distinct, nothing like anything you would have heard before...and the red 'lone ranger 'Zorro' over the eyes.

Ferngirl · New Member Joined: Nov 24, 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks Steptoe. That was our third sighting of the elusive bird. Twice we've seen it resting under the dark canopy of a huge Karaka Berry, but by the time we got the binoculars it was gone. From underneath it just looked green, but the light was difficult against the tree canopy.

This time it was flying across the lawn and landed on the top of a large tree, it was in the sunlight and I could see the red on top. Do you know of any sound recordings of Kakarikis call on the net? So I know what to listen out for.
Cheers.

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

This sort of sounds right...It is taken in the bush so has more of an echo sound
There is also a brief double chirp of another bird non kakatiki in the background

The best way to describe is a machine gun

http://www.kakariki.net/sounds/kakariki.mp3