Notornis, 23 (3), 213-219
Article Type: Paper
A colony of North Island wekas (Gallirallus australis greyi) has been successfully established at Rawhiti, Bay of Islands, as a result of five liberations in the summers of 1966–1971. This account is written mainly to help other amateurs who may consider obtaining wekas from the Wildlife Service and trying to establish colonies elsewhere. The number of birds required is discussed as well as details concerning the construction of the cage, time in the cage, and feeding. The account describes the effect of predators on the birds and the effect of wekas on other wildlife and the neighbours. It includes a map of the area illustrating a weka count in the Rawhiti area during January 1976. Most of the wekas counted at that time were bred in the area.