Key Takeaways
- Robert Taylor pioneered the RNZ morning bird‑call tradition that has aired for over 50 years.
- The first bird sounds were a fabricated morepork call created by Taylor and his sound engineer because a genuine recording was unavailable.
- After being corrected by a wildlife officer, Taylor received authentic recordings from the NZ Wildlife Service, which he carried to the Morning programme.
- Taylor’s personal passion for nature extended to conservation work, notably the campaign to save the Chatham Islands Black Robin.
- He was also a poet, an American Civil War enthusiast, and a devoted family man remembered for his gentleness and love of the outdoors.
- Today, RNZ’s library holds hundreds of bird calls that play each weekday before the 7 am and 9 am news, a lasting legacy of Taylor’s early innovation.
Early Career and the Night Programme
Robert Taylor began his broadcasting career in the early 1970s at the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC), the predecessor of Radio New Zealand (RNZ). Assigned to the all‑night programme, he sought to give his “night‑owl” listeners a soothing natural soundtrack. Inspired by the native ruru, or morepork, he wanted to broadcast its distinctive call. Lacking an authentic recording, Taylor and his sound engineer improvised by having the engineer mimic the bird’s voice. The resulting synthetic morepork call went to air for a couple of months, filling the night‑time schedule with a novel, if fabricated, soundscape.
The Prank Exposed and Corrected
The fabricated call eventually attracted the attention of John Kendrick, a staff member of the NZ Wildlife Service. Kendrick contacted Taylor, questioning the unusual morepork broadcast he had heard. Taylor confessed that the call was a fake, explaining that the team had been unable to obtain a genuine recording. Rather than reprimanding him, Kendrick offered to share his personal library of authentic bird recordings. This gesture not only corrected the on‑air error but also launched a lasting collaboration between broadcasting and wildlife conservation.
From Night to Morning: Establishing the Tradition
When Taylor transitioned to the Morning programme the following year, he brought the genuine bird calls supplied by Kendrick with him. The first official morning bird call aired on Waitangi Day in 1974, marking the debut of what would become a cherished RNZ ritual. The segment featured native New Zealand birdsong played just before the 7 am news, offering listeners a calming start to their day. The initiative quickly gained popularity, and the practice was retained and expanded over the ensuing decades.
Growth of the Bird‑Call Archive
Over time, RNZ’s library of bird calls grew substantially. By the time of Taylor’s death, the archive contained hundreds of recordings representing a wide variety of native species. These calls are scheduled each weekday before both the 7 am and 9 am news broadcasts, ensuring that the tradition Taylor helped initiate remains a daily fixture for audiences nationwide. The longevity of the segment—now exceeding fifty years—attests to its enduring appeal and the foresight of its early proponents.
Personal Life and Family Memories
Taylor’s daughter, Lydia DiCaprio, recalled her father as a gentle, kind‑hearted man who cherished time spent outdoors with her and her brother, Rob. She noted that one of his proudest achievements was his involvement in the campaign to rescue the Chatham Islands Black Robin, a species that had dwindled to a single breeding pair—affectionately named Old Blue and Old Yellow. Thanks to concerted conservation efforts, the robin population has since rebounded to hundreds of individuals. Taylor kept a photograph of Old Blue on his wall as a continual reminder of that success.
Conservation Advocacy and the Black Robin
The Black Robin recovery effort exemplified Taylor’s broader commitment to New Zealand’s unique fauna. He used his public platform to raise awareness about the plight of endangered birds and supported initiatives that paired scientific research with community engagement. His pride in the Robin’s resurgence reflected a belief that media could play a constructive role in environmental stewardship, a conviction that informed both his professional choices and his personal pursuits.
Other Interests: Poetry and History
Beyond broadcasting and nature, Taylor nurtured a love for poetry and the American Civil War. He wrote verses that often drew inspiration from the landscapes and wildlife he admired, blending literary expression with his naturalist sensibilities. His fascination with Civil War history revealed a scholarly side that enjoyed delving into the complexities of 19th‑century American conflict, offering a counterpoint to his local focus on New Zealand’s ecological heritage.
Retirement, Legacy, and Passing
In his later years, Taylor resided in Whanganui, where he enjoyed a quiet retirement surrounded by the natural world he had long championed. He passed away at the age of 82, leaving behind a multifaceted legacy: a pioneering broadcast tradition, a record of conservation advocacy, a body of poetic work, and the fond memories of family and colleagues who remembered him as a gentle, passionate individual. The morning bird calls that continue to greet RNZ listeners each day stand as a living tribute to his ingenuity and love for New Zealand’s avian life.