[Jezza]

A chap I virtually know in Nelson just sent me this link to give me an idea what to expect when camping wild in New Zealand - all the different kinds of birdsong you get there:

http://www.kmpmusic.co.nz/nature.html

[jamie7121]

A chap I virtually know in Nelson just sent me this link to give me an idea what to expect when camping wild in New Zealand - all the different kinds of birdsong you get there:

http://www.kmpmusic.co.nz/nature.html

Thanks for that! this is one of the things im really looking forward to, discovering for myself all the new varieties of birds, insect, trees and flowers etc. Mind you when i was in Welly for 7 weeks it was a good old blackbird which woke me every morning at 5am!

[thezorbster]

I was so excited when we arrived in Christchurch and I saw a blackbird. It's one of my favourite bird sounds although the blighters are waking me at 5 at the moment. I didn't know they had them in NZ and although I'm really looking forward to discovering lots of new birds, it's also nice to see familiar ones.

Was also excited to see oak trees! Am I a saddo?

[speckythecky]

Was also excited to see oak trees! Am I a saddo?

No.

Okay maybe a little bit

[migratory birds]

Thank you for the link! The birds are all returning back to the Northern Hemisphere - sandhill and whooping cranes, orioles, warblers, loons and hummers. I wake a 5 am to hear their songs after a long quiet winter. This link is exactly what I needed to confirm that their are indeed birds in NZ - even if there aren't hummingbirds :(

Not a saddo at all...I look around at the grand native Burr oaks with their gnarly, far reaching branches, hundreds of years old (and my little 7cm volunteer Burr oak in my garden) and realize how deeply rooted I am to the land I've spent most of my life on...

[jess]

Here's a great page with individual bird songs. I got this off the forum ealier - I think JubJub kindly posted it.
NZ Bird Songs (http://www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz/sound_gallery.php)

[Sam B]

We have downloaded all the birdsongs off these links onto J's Ipod and interspersed them amongst normal music. When one comes on, we all try and shout out what it is. Hmmm, that actually makes us sound demented. Oh well.

[jamie7121]

I was so excited when we arrived in Christchurch and I saw a blackbird. It's one of my favourite bird sounds although the blighters are waking me at 5 at the moment. I didn't know they had them in NZ and although I'm really looking forward to discovering lots of new birds, it's also nice to see familiar ones.

Was also excited to see oak trees! Am I a saddo?

The blackbird is such a lovely singer, it is very flutey and has great variety, its probably my fav songbird in this side of the world so i was very pleased to hear it in Welly. I also saw Silver Birches and a few familiar flowers etc but i also loved seeing the new things even my first Weta :wah . I really was taken by the Tui's, there song carried for miles it seemed and symbolised to me that i was indeed in another land. I would sit in the back garden and listen to them in the woods just 200 yards away, nice wee drop of red wine, sun bright above me, cicadas yattering away and wishing this was permanent and not just a holiday. Still not too long till we are :exit

[Moorf]

Was also excited to see oak trees! Am I a saddo?

I'll join your Oak Tree-spotters club :D, something we'd noticed too.

I have a couple of lovely song-thrushes in the garden, and something that sounds like a cuckoo.... not sure what that could be....

[StevieD]

Find the birds here fantastic (the feathered variety of course!), one landed on the tree in the garden the other day, right next to me, could have touched it, and it was so beautiful. Looked like it had a fan for a tail, and cheeky or what, didn't move when I edged close to have a look. Fantastic.

Seen some really brightly coloured ones by the river too, reds/blues/greens, haven't a clue what they are but a real treat to look at.

[Sam B]

They are Eastern Rosellas introduced from Australia, I think.

[jamie7121]

Find the birds here fantastic (the feathered variety of course!), one landed on the tree in the garden the other day, right next to me, could have touched it, and it was so beautiful. Looked like it had a fan for a tail, and cheeky or what, didn't move when I edged close to have a look. Fantastic.

Seen some really brightly coloured ones by the river too, reds/blues/greens, haven't a clue what they are but a real treat to look at.

Thats exactly what you saw, a Fantail, a bit like our long tailed tit. Cheeky wee rascals and often quite unafraid. They are my kiwi wife's favourite bird.

[migratory birds]

This talk of lovely birds with beautiful song...anyone have reccomendations for bird field guides covering New Zealand?

I have recently discovered "Sibley Guide to Birds" and "Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior" covering North America. Excellent!

[jamie7121]

Ebay have some from time to time. I have bought a couple. Or you could try Amazon to see what they have.

[Sam B]

Stevie D - are these the birds you saw by the river?

http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/easternrosella.html