Posted by David Sewell on June 10, 2013 at 12:32 PM
Image taken on: Mon Apr 29, 2013 11:37
Focal length: 300 mm
Shutter speed: 1/100 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO speed: 1600
White-balance: Auto
Flash: No
Camera make: NIKON CORPORATION
Camera model: D600
Exposure mode: Aperture priority
Exposure compensation: -1/3 EV
Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average
This is a weka, a type of New Zealand rail. Believe it or not, it is often top predator on the islands where it occurs. We did see a wild one on the small island of Ulva, just off Stewart Island, but it was gone so quickly that I had no chance of a photo. This one was photographed in a small zoo in Queenstown, South Island, where you are allowed in the cages with many of the exhibits - at least, the flightless ones!
Thanks for looking.
David
Posted by Barry Southon on June 10, 2013 at 12:46 PM
David
Yet another interesting species well illustrated, I can't wait to get back down there your series is really encouraging.
David it's great to see these interesting birds from your trip like Andy I would be interested to know there size.
Keith.
Posted by David Sewell on June 10, 2013 at 5:38 PM
Andy, Keith thanks for your interest. Size and weight wise it is more comparable to a coot than to a water rail. According to the HAndbook of the Birds of the World, weka are 50-60cm in length and 532 - 1605 gms in weight, whereas a water rail is only 25-28cm length and 88-190 gms, in both cases for males. Coots are not quite so long as weka, but at up to 1200 gms are a very similar weight.
Another interesting species David. Presumably there are no cats on these islands?
Bob
Posted by David Sewell on June 11, 2013 at 8:01 AM
Hi AndyOn Ulva Island (the only place I have first hand experience of as far as weka are concerned) the main prey is shoreline invertebrates, although the guide we met has seen them holding down small birds and taking them a bit at a time. There are records of them taking things as big as chickens, mice and young rabbits.
Bob, you are right, there are no cats on these islands and they also exclude rats, which is more difficult as rats can swim. However, they do seem to be able to co-exist with cats on many mainland areas. New Zealand friends report that 20-30 years ago they were fairly common scavengers around campsites. They do seem to have declined in recent years though, and are IUCN classified as 'near threatened'.
Lovely species of Rail David!
When i was down there the Rail species seemed to be the most difficult ones to photograph also as they where almost as skittish as their European cousins..
Discussion
9 repliesFocal length: 300 mm
Shutter speed: 1/100 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO speed: 1600
White-balance: Auto
Flash: No
Camera make: NIKON CORPORATION
Camera model: D600
Exposure mode: Aperture priority
Exposure compensation: -1/3 EV
Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average
This is a weka, a type of New Zealand rail. Believe it or not, it is often top predator on the islands where it occurs. We did see a wild one on the small island of Ulva, just off Stewart Island, but it was gone so quickly that I had no chance of a photo. This one was photographed in a small zoo in Queenstown, South Island, where you are allowed in the cages with many of the exhibits - at least, the flightless ones!
Thanks for looking.
David
Yet another interesting species well illustrated, I can't wait to get back down there your series is really encouraging.
Another good capture, David. How big is this species in relation to the Water Rail we have in the UK?
Andy...
Keith.
David
Thanks David. I have another question now, what sort of prey does it go after?
Andy...
Bob
Bob, you are right, there are no cats on these islands and they also exclude rats, which is more difficult as rats can swim. However, they do seem to be able to co-exist with cats on many mainland areas. New Zealand friends report that 20-30 years ago they were fairly common scavengers around campsites. They do seem to have declined in recent years though, and are IUCN classified as 'near threatened'.
David
When i was down there the Rail species seemed to be the most difficult ones to photograph also as they where almost as skittish as their European cousins..
greetings,
Jeroen Stel