March 25, 2021
Kokako join dawn chorus in force
Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says recovery efforts over more than two decades have brought the North Island kōkako back from the brink of extinction.
From a population of as few as 330 breeding pairs in the late 1990s, there are now 2000 breeding pairs of this secretive forest bird.
Ms Allen was at an event in Pureora Forest to celebrate the milestone which included an early-morning forest walk when participants could hear kōkako join the dawn chorus of forest birds.
She says it’s a true conservation success story, and a massive testament to the individuals, iwi and community groups who have worked alongside the Department of Conservation to rebuild the population.
The kōkako holds an important place in Māori mythology, and its iconic status is also due in part to its extraordinary song – a loud, long, slow-paced sequence of rich, organ-like notes, which is often used by film-makers to evoke the sense of New Zealand native forests.
At sites with effective ongoing predator control, kōkako populations have increased by up to 50 per cent each year.
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