A little ditty of an entry, or, an homage to the birds of New Zealand

The view from our Christchurch bedroom window at dawn:
a glorious sky over rooftops, tropical and familiar trees

A sweet and simple entry here, a loving thank you to the birds of New Zealand. How much joy you bring my heart, dear birds, when I wake in the morning and hear your melodious voices ringing out! What happiness to hear yet another new and extraordinary tune!

Here are links to a few recordings we've made of birdsongs so far here in New Zealand, as well as a link to a lovely reference site for those who might like to enjoy more!

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This is a recording I made just before dawn on October 7th, right from my bedroom window here in Christchurch. The main singer here is one of my very favorites: Dawn Chorus Christchurch

Isaac amongst the magnificent stones
of Castle Hill

Another recording I made right in Christchurch, at the University of Canterbury where Andy is teaching. I was walking through campus and this bird was singing out so loudly and clearly and beautifully I sat down and installed my sound recording app and here we are: UC serenade

From our trip to Arthur's Pass, as we passed Castle Hill the first time we made a pit stop. I've never heard this kind of humming sound from a bird before: Castle Hill mystery bird. You may have to turn your volume up all the way to hear this guy -- it's not the background birdsong, it's the one that makes a high note then low note in that funny almost humming way. It was so new to me, like a bird from fairyland.

Josie on the beach at Hokitika

Also during our Arthur's Pass trip, we stopped at sunset in Hokitika on the West Coast to try to see glowworms in all their glory in a little dell by the side of the highway, but it was too light yet. The birds were magnificent though: Sunset chorus at Hokitika

These keas in Arthur's Pass were happy to interact with humans,
and loved pulling the rubber seals off our rental car!!

And as I will mention in my Arthur's Pass entry -- the warbling cries of those mischievous mountain parrots, the keas: Keas at the Viaduct Lookout, Arthur's Pass

Want to hear more? Thank you, New Zealand Dept of Conservation dictionary of birdsong and calls!
http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds/new-zealand-bird-songs-and-calls/