National Radio keeps the birds

The bird calls that thousands of New Zealanders say help them start their day will not be silenced, Radio New Zealand said today when announcing programming changes to National Radio.

A bird call is played before news bulletins on the Morning Report programme, and has been used since 1974.

The distinctive sound of the tui was used as the station's trademark as far back as 1948 during its debut 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.

- NZPA, HERALD STAFF