Wild Bird Wednesday 628 - Kōkako

The North Island Kōkako (Callaeas wilsoni) is an endemic New Zealand Wattlebird, and almost certainly the only surviving species in the genus. The South Island Kōkako (Callaeas cinereus) has not been confirmed to be seen since 2007, and the prior to that had not been seen since 1967.  The South Island species is now classified as data deficient, rather than extinct - but it's probably gone.

The North Island Kōkako is doing a little better, but only with significant conservation effort.  This species was once common over much of North Island, but now they are restricted to a few predator free sanctuaries. 

Predation at nests – mainly by ship rats and possums, and occasionally stoats – is the primary cause of the North Island Kōkako's decline. Female Kōkako are particularly at risk of predation as they do all the incubation and brooding throughout a 50-day nesting period. Years of such selective predation resulted in populations that were predominantly male and as such had very low productivity rates. In one example of this type of predation, the population of North Island Kōkako's in Hunua Ranges was reduced to have just one breeding female in 1994.

An active program of translocation from individuals to predator free sanctuaries has resulted in a rise in bird numbers, and now there are about 2300 breeding pairs spread across a number of sites on North Island.  The island of Tiritiri Matangi - which is just over an hour by boat from central Auckland - is one of these sites, and I was fortunate to see at least two birds on a day visit there. 

The bird itself is more often seen than heard and it has wonderful, far carrying, voice that is described as 'a slow string of very loud rich mournful organ-like notes' - and I can vouch for the fact that it was loud.  They can be frustratingly hard to see in the tree tops,  but I was lucky enough to find (with help!) two birds lower in the canopy.

Kōkako weigh around 230g and are about 38 cm long. They have long legs and a long tail, and a short, strong bill. They are not strong flyers. The North Island Kōkako has distinctive blue wattles (fleshy pads hanging from each corner of the bill), while the South Island bird’s wattles were orange. 

I have to say, they are a pretty spectacular bird.

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the link below.  Cheers  SM

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter