That's what time the parrots and all their relatives start warbling outside my bedroom window. If I could only convey to you the sounds they make... such noise is almost as overwhelming as a foreign language. I also realized that maybe the reason people associate wiry, bespectacled bird enthusiasts with stuffy old Englishmen is because the truth of the matter is that America really doesn't have as big of a bird culture as the rest of the world. Sure, there's an occasional crow cawing, along with some sparse, early-morning twittering, but in New Zealand a veritable symphony of melodic tunes plays almost constantly, and I don't mind unless it's 4:30 am and I'm trying to get to sleep (did I say "get" to sleep? I meant just sleep... heh...). One goes something like "Te-ta-tee-tah-tee-tahhhh" over and over again, one goes "tweeeeet-too-da-la-la-la-laaaaaa," and another just plain shrieks.
This week I spent all my time madly finishing several papers, but the upshot is that I don't have any more school work in New Zealand (except for finals in four weeks)!!! Wohoo! Today it's 24 degrees Celsius (I thought this temperature would never come), and although I've said it before, New Zealand really is infinitely better with warmer weather. Honestly. It's such a world of difference. Anyway, I'm off to Milford Sound for the weekend by way of Te Anau, where I'll be camping tonight. Expect some kind of lengthy post on Monday (that's Sunday for all you crazy fools living in the past). Take it easy.
***UPDATE***
I found some of the crazy bird sounds! Listen to them and justify my wasted time, dammit!
http://www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz/Sounds/kokako.mp3
http://www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz/Sounds/kakariki.mp3
http://www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz/Sounds/saddleback.mp3
http://www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz/Sounds/si_kaka.mp3
http://www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz/Sounds/grey_warbler_nz.mp3 (there are two of these in a bush outside my window... they're the LOUD early morning ones).
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This blog began as a method of corresponding with the outside world during my five months in New Zealand, but now that I'm back I might just keep posting...
1 comment:
The bird sounds where cool! But only because I listened to them once, I an not trying to sleep, and know that I will never have to hear them again. Under such conditions they would dive me crazy, so you are justified in your hatred. Here in Eugene the only bird that may wake you up is the chicken that our neighbors have. It is a rare occasion that it will wake me, but it has happened. Have fun and enjoy the warmer weather.
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