North Island weka
weka · Gallirallus australis greyi
Seen almost everywhere: bays, beaches, gardens and the Mansion House lawns.
Story
The 1976 birds were not Kawau's first weka. An earlier introduction died out within 30 years. In 1991, 13 young Kawau weka were caught to help found a captive-breeding programme for the subspecies.
Behaviour
Bold, curious omnivores that eat fruit, invertebrates, eggs, lizards, small mammals and carrion. Pairs roost together and duet at dawn and dusk. On Kawau they often forage along beaches for small crabs.
There’s more about this bird on Kawau in the island’s history.