wekas

Feral cattle, sheep, pigs, and possums need to be controlled in order to prevent further damage to native vegetation, and predator control programs need to be continued to keep rats, mice, hedgehogs, cats, dogs, and wekas (Gallirallus spp.) in check.

Chatham Island temperate forests 2008

It is possible that wekas no longer exist on Macquarie Island, and cat numbers are now very low, probably fewer than 100 individuals.

MacQuarie Island, Australia 2008

After repairing the dilapidated shack, we sallied out for the purpose of catching our evening meal, and with the aid of Mac soon succeeded in getting eight wekas.

The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920

After catching some wekas and taking a few photographs we returned to the Shack.

The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920

She was particularly deadly in hunting rabbits and wekas, and though the first-named were very scarce within a few miles of the Shack, she always managed to unearth one or two somewhere.

The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920

The wekas or Maori hens are small, flightless birds, averaging when full grown about two and three-quarter pounds.

The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920

Several of us started out on the 10th to visit the west coast for the purpose of getting some wekas and, incidentally, to make any observations possible.

The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920

Hamilton made a trip to the west coast on the 28th and returned with thirteen wekas.

The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920

We were now taking it in turns to go once a week and get some wekas, and it was always possible to secure about a dozen, which provided sufficient meat for three dinners.

The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920

There were a large number of wekas about, but after shooting fourteen we were satisfied with our bag.

The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920