As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Tuesday 30 July 2013

North Island kokako reintroduced population has disappeared

Concerns for North Island kokako on Secretary Island following a promising start

July 2013. Secretary Island, at the mouth of Doubtful Sound, is recognised as one of New Zealand's ecological jewels and presents a wealth of opportunities to further advance our knowledge in pest eradication methods and restoration in the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.

The Fiordland Lobster Company funded the transfer of twenty-seven kokako from the North Island down to Secretary Island during 2008-9. In 2011 hopes of success were raised when two kokako pairs and most excitingly one fully fledged juvenile were observed, proving that Secretary Island provided suitable habitat for North Island kokako to breed.

No birds traced
Following these findings Fiordland Lobster and DOC began planning the translocation of additional birds to boost the founding population. However in 2013 an experienced kokako search party were surprisingly unable to locate any kokako on Secretary Island. DOC Ranger Megan Willans said, "At this stage we cannot categorically say there are no surviving kokako on Secretary Island, however evidence suggests that sadly most of the birds have perished."

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