Thread: Kookaburras

These guys were cackling away this morning. Pretty hard case. Most people in NZ probably have no idea we have them here

Tempted to shoot one, but always seem to be on a power line, of course…

Yep seen a few in Wainui / Waitoki area as well , big birds , they must gobble through lizards etc

Narh they ain't big about the same size as a maggy.

Originally Posted by deye223

Narh they ain't big about the same size as a maggy.

Compared to NZ native kingfishers they are huge.
Incredible birds I miss hearing them, had no idea there was a population here, presumably self introduced ?
Any idea how long they have been in NZ ?

When I had a property that backed on to the Woodhill Forest we saw and heard them frequently. A couple of decades ago there was a coordinated effort by DoC to try and determine the number of nesting sites by getting people to report them but I have no idea whether they had any degree of success.

I was told they started of from escapees from a collector at murawai a very long time ago

plenty around Hoteo area

thought to have been introduced by Governer Grey onto Kawau Island
Found on Kawau Island, Hauraki Gulf, and the adjacent mainland east coast from the Whangarei district south to Kaukapakapa and Riverhead, and the southern Waitakere Ranges. Birds have also been recorded further north from the Bay of Islands. Sightings of single birds from elsewhere in the North Island (Cape Maria van Diemen, Waikato, Gisborne) and from the South Island (Westland, Otago) are regarded as vagrants, either from Northland or Australia. Kookaburras inhabit open wooded country and forest margins

Yeah governor grey is what I understood

I’ve seen them in a number of areas not far from Kawau, given the length of time they’ve been here I’m amazed they haven’t multiplied to particularly large numbers

Interesting about the other sightings. Nothing stopping them moving that far in 150 yrs I suppose

If they have a propensity to wake you before the alarm clock does - they won’t spread very far at all

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

If they have a propensity to wake you before the alarm clock does - they won’t spread very far at all

Slight derail, sorry, but this comment reminds me that Tuis have made quite a comeback over the last 10 years or so, at least around here. I frequently see urban Tui when out and about walking.
Talk about talkative birds ! Often hear them sounding pre-dawn and just as much, if not more, after dark when any other self respecting bird is in the roost with their loudspeakers packed away for the day.
Good to have them back though and I'm glad they're doing well here.

I watched one swoop in and eat my mates flatmate's cockatiel in Oz, cracked me up to no end

in our New Plymouth suburb we have a very small resident population of morepork neat to hear them still here - makes me feel like I am back out in Te Urewera again

I miss the kookaburras from my time in Australia, nothing is more iconic of that country in mind, including gum trees and kangaroos.

Have seen them out Maungatapere way also