Kokako nesting again: 3

There are baby birds everywhere: tui, korimako (bellbird), piwakawaka (fantail) and even magpies, starlings and sparrows. But no kokako. The nest on the ridge opposite our house has been abandoned. Of the 2 confirmed nests this season, both have failed. There is evidence of predation at the first nest that had chicks but just no birds at the second. The second birds are a new pair and may have been practicing. Hopefully both pairs will try again.

A fledgling tui waiting to be fed and whine, whine, whining.

A pair of korimako chicks. 

Korimako deliberately ignoring it’s chick.

The next time you start to complain about whining children, spare a thought for the birds. Their nesting might be brief but the chicks are demanding and so annoying. And often they go through it 2 or 3 times a year. Tui whine constantly and korimako zzzt, zzzt, zzzt endlessy but magpies must be the worst. They follow their parents around begging all day.

Juvenile magpie badgering it’s parent for food.