Weka Birds

When yo ugo to New Zealand, you start reading about the wonderful
bird life there. As a matter of fact, if you think you are going to sleep
late while you are there, think again.

The wonderful songs of the tui and bell bird are similar to the red winged
black bird here in the states. The tui has an amazing range of sound such
that we named it the 'synthesizer bird'.

The weka is an interesting bird, rather plain to look at but it distinguishes
itself by stealing shiny objects, particularly cutlery. We were told we
might see one if we were lucky.

After a refreshing rain shower at Torrent Bay, we were cooking dinner
when Ed returned from a walk to say he had seen the strangest thing.
A little brown bird had been going from tent to tent, peeking under
each tent fly. The bird would take a few steps, peek under one tent,
then go a little further and peek under the next. He said he thought it
was a weka.

With his usual humor Trevor said, "That's not a weka! That's a peeka!"