A New Zealand Dawn Chorus

CRASH bang clang rattle ding! Silence.

"Bugger Bugger Bugger! DAMN and blast the bloody thing."

The sound of something heavy being pushed and varying amounts of other workshop noises came charging out through the closed barn door. Jenny and Patrick stood and looked at one another wondering if this was the opportune time to open it and announce their presence. They did. It was large, a myriad of tools was scattered all about, materials of all sorts were stacked here and there and amongst all this a white haired guy of indiscernible age was spread eagled on the floor amongst it all.

"Grab that,” addressing Patrick.

Nodding to Jenny, "Come over here and hand me that nut."

They did as directed and after a lot of effort the large hunk of steel was in place on the trap and the gent on the floor visibly relaxed. He got to his feet.

 "I've been fighting with that most of the morning, not as young as I used to be. What can I do for you?" as he looked at their packs and took stock of the visitors.

 "We visited the local wildlife office this morning and James told us that you have done a pretty good job out here restoring a large area of scrubland back to native forest and have had remarkable results with the birdlife. We are from UK and want to experience a New Zealand Dawn chorus. He also remarked that you had the area virtually predator free with the exception of fallow deer. Extensive plantings of native food trees have also taken the place of exotics."

"Ahhhh Yes . That fellow doesn't have the same respect for deer that I have. So thirty years ago I set out to prove to him that a pristine New Zealand forest and birds can co- exist in the presence of deer."

The conversation continued, but eventually they left with instructions of what to do and where to go. After a pleasant afternoon strolling through the bush, checking the odd predator trap, they set up camp. Before  turning in hey set their phones to 4.30am. They woke and listened and were not disappointed in what they heard.Their smart phones were set to record and this was the result.

Grant Ward