Threat to axe bird call sparks dawn chorus

The threat of extinction for Morning Report's bird call appears to be fading fast as listeners flood Radio New Zealand with emails demanding it be preserved.

Morning Report hosts Sean Plunkett and Geoff Robinson yesterday put out their own call, asking listeners whether "the bird", which heralds the programme's hourly news bulletins on weekday mornings, should be given the chop.

RNZ communications manager John Barr said the response had been overwhelming, with more than 1600 emails received by lunchtime, the majority calling for the bird's conservation.

"Geoff and Sean thought, 'Let's see what the bird call means to New Zealanders,' and the response has been simply extraordinary," Mr Barr said.

One woman even hung a "Keep the Bird" banner from her apartment window opposite Radio New Zealand's Wellington headquarters while the programme was on air.

Mr Barr said there had never been a definite plan to ditch the bird but all programming on National Radio had been under review since late last year.

That process was not finished and the state-owned broadcaster was "some way off" making final decisions, he said.

The bird call has been used on RNZ's National Programme since 1974 but the distinctive sound of the tui was used as the station's trademark as far back as 1948 during its first-ever broadcast.

Since then the full range of New Zealand bird calls have been added, prompting a number of April Fool's Day hoaxes including the "call" of New Zealand's extinct - and never-recorded - huia.