Recovering Populations: Birds | Ark in the Park

Kokako

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:50:41 +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

Kaka

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:49:07 +1200

This large parrot is found in many bush areas throughout New Zealand, but numbers are severely reduced in areas where nests are vulnerable to predation. None are settled in the mainland adjacent to Auckland, but young birds visit every year, from a thriving population on predator-free Little Barrier Island. Very active and very vocal, with red feathers under their body displayed in flight, no one will overlook their presence when they visit. This kaka is seen cracking open kauri cones on Great Barrier Island. Note the 'after' view of a cone on the left of the picture.

Audio file: www.whatbird.co.nz. Photograph: John Staniland

Popokotea, or whitehead

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:22:49 +1200

August 2004 and 2005 whiteheads (popokotea) from Tiritiri Matangi Island were released into the Ark in the Park, and have been seen regularly, but infrequently, since. So far observations in the Waitakeres have been of single birds or pairs, but in established areas they often congregate in small flocks. They favour small trees on the edges of the forest.

A pair bred over 2004/05 season in a predator controlled area near Karekare

Audio file: www.whatbird.co.nz

Miromiro, or tomtit

Sun, 10 May 2009 15:15:33 +1200

The highly territorial male can often be seen flitting along trees on the edge of walking tracks. The female will be nearby, but keeps further away; she has much less prominent markings, and is often mistaken for a robin. However, tomtits are only half the size of a robin, and are a little smaller than a sparrow. Their stance on a branch is with the tail held high, and flicking rapidly, in contrast to the erect and poised stance of a robin.

Audio file: www.whatbird.co.nz. Photograph: Glen Jennings

Hihi, or stitchbird

Sun, 10 May 2009 14:46:26 +1200

A spectacular and very active bird. The more colourful male is shown here. Hihi have been absent from the Waitakeres for over 100 years, until the translocation of populations from Tirititiri Matangi island in 2007 and 2008. The song heard here is the male's territorial call. There is a second type of call, the short/sharp alarm call, which has been likened to the sound of two marbles being struck together, and has lead to the name of 'stitch' bird. Click [here] to hear this call.

Photograph: Eric Wilson

Toutouwai, or North Island robin

Sun, 10 May 2009 14:26:43 +1200

These birds often approach very close to walkers if they pause for a minute or two in a damp area. Characteristic features are their pale breast, upright stance. They are approximately the size of a thrush - considerably larger than the tomtit, which is often mistakenly identified as a robin.

Note the leg bands. These are read from top to bottom, left leg first. So the above bird is: 'green-metal-red'

Audio file: www.whatbird.co.nz. Photograph: Maurice Colgan