Have you seen a bulbul?

The destructive and aggressive red-vented bulbul has now been seen in several parts of Auckland, including our Whangaparaoa Peninsula. Evidently they like nice gardens and compost heaps, especially one with food scraps. If you see one please record the time and place, take a photo if you can and call Biosecurity on 0800 80 99 66.

They are the size of a small starling, body is brown but pale underneath and the head is black with a distinct crest. And yes they have a red patch underneath the tail but this is often not visible.

You can see and hear one on this video and find out more about them on the Biosecurity website.