Photographs | Ark in the Park

Second Kokako Release

Mon, 31 May 2010 17:37:47 +1200

Val Lyon's Farewell

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:32:59 +1300

Ark Clothing

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:59:02 +1300

Ark Signs Go Up

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:03:08 +1200

There are now six of these at entry points on public tracks.

Recovering Populations: Birds

Sun, 10 May 2009 13:10:38 +1200

On 8th September 2009 the first pair of a planned total of 30 birds was released into the Ark in the Park. This marks the return of a beautiful creature to a Waitakere forest that has not heard its call for over 60 years.

Only 750 pairs of kokako remain in the North Island. The Department of Conservation’s (DOC) kokako recovery plan aims to have around 1,000 breeding pairs established by 2020.

Kokako are renowned for the clarity and volume of their song which carries far across the forest. In the early morning, a pair may sing a duet for up to half an hour with other kokako joining in to form a "bush choir".

Male and female are similar in colour and size (weighing about 230 grams).

They protect large territories (8 hectares) by singing and chasing away invaders.

They eat leaves, fern-fronds, flowers, fruit and invertebrates.

Kokako are known to live for up to 40 years.

In Maori myth, it was the kokako that gave Maui water as he fought the sun. The kokako filled its wattles with water and brought it to Maui. His thirst quenched, Maui rewarded the kokako by making its legs long and slender, enabling the bird to bound through the forest with ease in search of food

Photograph: Paul Carter

Bus Shelter planting

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:21:35 +1300

Grant and Mike have a joke; Yvonne and Laurence keep on working...

Hihi chicks 2008

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:31:12 +1300

Photograph: Eric Wilson

Hihi nest

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:39:23 +1200

40 minutes after the discovery of the starling, the male and female return. The male enters the hole and then exits rapidly, possibly along with the intruder. Subsequently the female is able to start bringing twigs and entering the vacated hole.

The natural life of the Ark

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:07:29 +1200

The Cascades area is rain forest, with abundant rain fall. Some of this flows into the Waitakere dam, which sits at the centre of the Ark.

(photograph: John Staniland)

Volunteer activities

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:06:51 +1200

Education activities are another Ark activity. Kathy Chandler, a volunteer who is a primary school teacher, here can be seen using her skills to communicate with a group of children at a public conservation event.

Photograph: Peter Buchanan