Audio / Video

click photos for clips.

Weka

Woodhen

Gallirallus australis scotti

Highly territorial, weka defend their territories vigorously, while at the same time being quite happy to poach others territory. Weka are the wide boys of Ulva Island. Always on the make they can hear the rustle of a muesli bar packet at 40 paces, upwind.

Weka will defend their young with extreme vigour and years ago in South Westland I watched a weka hen successfully defend her chicks against a very determined stoat. They will eat just about anything, insects, fruit, birds eggs and young birds. I have seen one kill a rat. They are Ulva Islands number one native predator and have a significant effect on the behaviour of other species.

They are excellent swimmers . They are completely non-flyers but will climb trees after both fruit and to predate nests,

size 530 mm


Weka The wekas territorial call is very distinctive
Family Feeding Weka chicks leave the nest at a few days old and follow the parents. This recording is of a parent feeding very young chicks, who are perpetually "peeping"
Weka hen and chick Parents will feed chicks for at least 3 to 4 months
Predators This unfortunate Prion must have crash landed into a wekas territory. The "kill" took around 2 minutes and clearly shows just how effective weka are
Weka Family at Kowhai Lane We have weka families living within the village
Arboreal Weka Weka will happily climb trees. This one was gorging on coprosma berries
Feeding Weka are pretty well omnivorous. This one was after sand hoppers living in decaying kelp deep in the sand.