North Island Weka

Weka

The North Island weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) is one of four sub-species of weka. Standing 53cm, and weighing around 1 kg, they are about the about the same size as a chicken and were called a "woodhen" by early settlers.

Weka are flightless brown birds with a sturdy short bill and legs.

Weka feed mainly on invertebrates and fruit, but also eat seeds, small vertebrates such as rats, birds and lizards, and carrion.

The main call of the weka is a shrill double note 'coo-eet', usually heard at dusk. North Island weka tend to be shy and retiring, heard more often than seen.

In the right conditions, weka can breed all year round, producing up to four broods in a year. Birds usually lay between August and January and the 2-3 creamy white eggs are laid about 2-3 days apart. Both sexes incubate the eggs, the female usually during the day and the male overnight.

Weka were once common throughout the North Island but habitat destruction, predation and natural disasters such as Cyclone Bola have reduced wild populations in the North Island to about 3,000 birds, found mainly in the Opotiki region, Poverty Bay.

Weka in the Sanctuary

Nine weka were released into the northern part of the Sanctuary in June 2000. A temporary fence has been constructed across the valley restricting the dispersal of weka so that other species that could be vulnerable to weka predation (such as rare lizards and invertebrates) can be established elsewhere in the Sanctuary. Construction of the fence was supported by a grant from the WWF Habitat Restoration Fund.

Breeding has occurred since release and counts by volunteers of calls heard in the early evening indicate the small population has increased to about 6 pairs. It is thought that the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary could support over 200 weka once the weka fence is removed which, if realised, would make it the largest protected population on the mainland.