When I got to see my first Weka, we were on the bridge road, from the ferry, over the pass to Doubtful Sound. Our Captain Miles was driving, and by this time had figured out my interest in all things bird. I was in the back seat when he announced "There's a Weka" and nearly slammed on the brakes. Before the car was a chicken sized rail, picking away on a road killed opossum. Grabbing my camera, Miles said no hurry, it wont go anywhere. He was quite right, as it had no intention of giving up its dinner. They have a pretty open diet, eating insects, worms, fruit, seeds, all usually found by flicking leaves and forest ground cover with their bill. Dozens of Weka's later, they still really are almost domesticated, letting you walk right up to them, even in the most remote of locations. In some cases, they will walk right up to you, especially if there has been steady stream people, that it can beg an easy treat from. Here are a couple of shots of the Weka!
This is the subspecies, Gallirallis australis greyi, or Western Weka.
I found this Weka, down on Stewart Island, making it a Stewart Island Weka, Galliralliu Australia scotti
These nest two were found in the northern half of the South Island, making them also Western Weka's.
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