It would be impossible to enter forest (native or exotic), or go just about anywhere at all in NZ without encountering bellbirds. They are busy and noisy. If you see a bird in the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary out of the corner of your eye it was probably a bellbird. They brighten the forest with their song, and are known to be aggressive towards competition (other birds). They also have a habit of relentless, incessant squawking at a ruru or kārearea perched in the canopy (hoping to drive it away perhaps) and certainly warning other birds that a predator is present.
Here are a couple of adults, and a couple of fledglings.
