John and I were momentarily diverted from our gardening and mowing efforts at the Homestead a few days ago by an unusual bird call. It sounded somewhat like a tui, but different, and was coming from one of the camellias in the roadside wooded garden. Off we went to investigate. We both finally saw a bird we didn't recognise, greenish, with a slight down curved bill and a fork it its tail.
I dug out our field guides when we got back up to the house. Hooray, I was able to confirm that it was indeed a male BELLBIRD (Anthornis melanura melanura). "Makomako" in Te Reo Maori.
While I've thought I've heard them once or twice around Struan Farm, this is the first confirmed visual evidence we've had that they are returning. Most likely due to more effective control of possums.
I'm now hearing him more often while down in the gardens, it's a very happy sound!
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