Story: Ngā manu – birds

Tōrea call

When the tōrea (pied oystercatcher) calls ‘keria’ (dig) it is seen as the sign of an approaching storm – implying that people should dig for shellfish before bad weather arrives. When the tōrea cries ‘tōkia’, the storm is over. Listen to the tōrea calling. Is a storm coming, or has it passed?

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Department of Conservation
Reference: 10045161
Photograph by Rod Morris

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Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision – Radio New Zealand collection. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision (New Zealand birds/Reference number T7702)

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How to cite this page:

Kelly Keane-Tuala, 'Ngā manu – birds - Predicting the weather', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/natural-sounds/12168/torea-call (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Kelly Keane-Tuala, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015