Our Birds In The Wild, More About The Weka

Rights Information
Year
1949
Reference
33011
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1949
Reference
33011
Media type
Audio
Series
D series, ca. 1935-1950s.
Duration
00:09:58
Credits
RNZ Collection
Harper, Arthur Paul , 1865-1955, Speaker/Kaikōrero

This programme features a talk by A.P. Harper, a naturalist and bushman who worked with Charles Douglas in South Westland around the end of the 19th century.

Harper details the breeding and feeding of the weka, describing them as omnivorous, eating anything except soap. He says the male does all the courting, and both the male and female take turns at sitting on the eggs. The male is described as often being a 'hen-pecked' husband. He goes on to describe the feeding and raising of the chicks.

He notes the thieving habits of the weka, unable to resist anything bright, and how he once saw a weka steal a bill hook almost as heavy as itself. He also tells a story of a weka stealing bacon from their camp.

This programme follows on from "Our Birds in the Wild, The Weka".