Gangling teenage legs
aristocratic Roman nose
flirting tail
and the instincts of a shop-lifter
Pukeko
The Pukeko (swamp hen) is one of New Zealand’s ‘flightless’ birds that has been very successful in adapting to civilisation, and can now be seen even close to major motorways. You can love them or hate them, but you have to admire their tenacity. I saw a lot of them when we had a small-holding on the South Island’s West Coast. It was my job to clean out the cattle troughs – and they were constantly being fouled by Pukeko, so they weren’t my most popular bird. Over the years that I have watched them I have been fascinated by the fact that they appear to be regaining and strengthening the power of flight. They graduated from running over the West Coast roads to flying clumsily (at about windscreen height), and I have seen a pair of Pukeko fluttering into the air to chase off a hawk that was threatening their chicks. At first they built all their nests (if you could call an untidy bundle of sticks a nest) in the middle of our paddocks, but by the time we left the Coast they were constructing huge nests in the tops of small trees. Probably to get away from Rod’s rather erratic tractor driving.
Pukeko are gregarious birds and stay in small family groups. Chicks are always being looked after by a series of ‘aunties’. If danger approaches a quick flirt showing the underside of a white tail warns the rest of the family. It will be interesting to watch their progress in the future.
We love them. Never seen one in the flesh but friends brought us a really stylish tea towel with one on it. We asked all about them and now really want to make the trip to see them. Amazed that you saw that change in behaviour in such a short period.
We were on the Coast for about 14 years – and my life has been a lot longer than that!!
The pukeko is a fascinating bird. There are more of them around Christchurch now. I haven’t noticed any of their flying attempts but I was amazed by the way they seem to spear their food or hold it down with one foot and then use the beak to drag the food through the claws. I couldn’t decide if the birds used the same foot each time or if they alternated.
I don’t they were ever totally flightless – not to the extent that the Kiwi was – but they seemed to be getting better all the time.
I love how swiftly they can run, even in water deep enough to wade in. We have increasing numbers living around our man-made lake in Whitby, Porirua. I’m not sure how pleased the nearby residents are though. Pukekos can wreak havoc in gardens and leave awful messes.
I once saw a Pukeko at a bird sanctuary try and get a piece of toast out of a toaster that was on a low table. They are very adept with those claws.
Yes, I was always ambivalent about them as well. They certainly could be messy