South Island Kokako: Understanding the Threats and Conservation Efforts

The South Island Kokako is a unique and fascinating bird species, but it's facing some serious threats. Habitat loss and fragmentation are major concerns, with the kokako's native forest habitat being cleared for farming and logging.

The South Island Kokako was once found in the dense forests of the South Island, but its population has been declining rapidly. In fact, the species was considered extinct in the wild until a small population was discovered in 1980.

Conservation efforts are underway to protect the South Island Kokako and its habitat. The Department of Conservation is working to establish a network of protected areas and corridors to connect isolated kokako populations.

The South Island kōkako was first formally described in 1788 by Johann Friedrich Gmelin, a German naturalist, who coined the binomial name Glaucopis cinerea.

Gmelin based his description on the "cinereous wattle-bird" that had been described and illustrated in 1781 by John Latham, an English ornithologist, in his book A General Synopsis of Birds.

The specific epithet cinereus is Latin for "ash-grey" or "ash-coloured", which refers to the bird's plumage.

The genus Callaeas, to which the South Island kōkako belongs, is masculine, but the species epithet cinerea is not masculinised to match, although some authors have argued that it should be.

The South Island kōkako was the first of the two kōkako species to be described, with the North Island kōkako being formally recognised as a separate species in 2001.

The South Island kokako's conservation status has been a topic of interest in recent years. The species was formally declared extinct by the Department of Conservation in 2007, but a reported sighting in 2007 near Reefton changed its status to "data deficient".

The Ornithological Society of New Zealand accepted the sighting as genuine, and since then, there have been 11 other reported sightings that are considered possible or probable.

A supposed kōkako feather was found in 1995, but it was later identified as coming from a blackbird. However, there's still some doubt about this conclusion due to the morphology of the feather and the DNA test used.

The IUCN Red List status of the species is Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) as of 2016, and there have been unconfirmed sightings and reports of calls since then.

The South Island Kōkako Charitable Trust is working to confirm the species' existence so it can be conserved appropriately. They have a $10,000 reward on offer for evidence of the species, such as a photograph or video, which would need to be verified by the Department of Conservation and Birds NZ.

Here are some key facts about the South Island kokako's conservation status:

The South Island kokako was once found throughout the South Island, but subfossil bones suggest they were eliminated from dry eastern lowland forest due to forest burning by Māori.

Its range was reduced by forest being replaced with open country across much of eastern South Island following Māori settlement.

Kōkako remained locally common in some remote areas into the 1870s.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake South Carolina

Most records of the South Island kokako were from the West Coast of the South Island from North-west Nelson to Fiordland.

They were also reported from Marlborough, Banks Peninsula, Arthurs Pass, Mt Cargill, Catlins, Southland and Stewart Island.

South Island kokako were recorded from the coast to the tree-line in forest dominated by southern beech, southern rata, kamahi and rimu, as well as subalpine scrub.

You might enjoy: Southern Giant Petrel

The South Island kokako was decimated by introduced mammalian predators, with ship rats, feral cats, and stoats likely having the greatest impact. These predators spread rapidly, with ship rats appearing in the 1860s and stoats and weasels in the 1880s.

Predation was the main cause of extinction for the South Island kokako. South Island kokako were described as rapidly approaching extinction in 1889.

The South Island kokako's tendency to spend longer feeding on the forest floor and nest closer to the ground made them more vulnerable to mammalian predators. This is in contrast to their North Island counterparts, which were more cautious.

South Island kokako were also hunted by Maori, and large numbers were killed for sale to European collectors and museums. This further contributed to their decline.

The conservation status of the South Island kokako was moved from extinct to data deficient in 2013 following a reported sighting near Reefton on the West Coast of the South Island in 2007. This sighting has yet to be confirmed.

A potential kōkako call was recorded at Heaphy Track on 29 December 2021, which has raised hopes for the species' conservation. However, no authenticated recent remains, feathers, droppings, video, or photographs exist to confirm the species' existence.

Here are some key threats to the South Island kokako's survival:

These predators continue to pose a significant threat to the species' survival, making conservation efforts crucial to their protection.

The South Island kokako's breeding habits are fascinating. They begin courtship displays in October, with the male performing an 'archangel' display to the female, raising and spreading his wings and tail, and bowing his head while making a gurgling noise.

The nest is a massive structure made of twigs and moss, with a woven base of sticks and sprays supporting a basin-shaped nest-bowl of twigs and sphagnum moss lined with soft grass.

Two to three stone-coloured eggs are laid in the lined central cup of the nest, measuring 40.2 x 27.5 mm with purplish and brown spots.

The female incubates the eggs alone for about 18 days, while the male feeds her during courtship, incubation, and brooding.

The nestling period is mainly January-February, with partially downy nestlings left for periods during the daytime.

Young kokakos are fully grown by May and remain with their parents until the following breeding season.

It's likely that only a single brood is raised per season.

The South Island kokako is a monogamous and territorial bird, with adults moving around in pairs, with the male leading.

Foraging social groups of up to 7 birds have been recorded, as well as a record of 20 birds travelling through forest on foot together.

The male and female kokako are inseparable, with the male uttering a sweet whistle and the female responding with a distinctive call.

Kokako often hold food in one foot when feeding, and defend large territories with their complex song.

The song is one of the slowest of any songbird species, and the duets are said to be the longest of any songbird species.

Expand your knowledge: Birds Fly South

The Tieke or saddleback, a type of wattlebird, is also known to be a skilled flyer.

Tieke or saddleback and kōkako are wattlebirds.

The Kōkā is a remarkable bird, and one of its most interesting features is its monogamous nature. This means that Kōkās form long-term pair bonds with their mates.

Their nests are truly massive structures, made from twigs and moss, with a woven base of sticks and sprays. This supports a basin-shaped nest-bowl of twigs and sphagnum moss, lined with soft grasses.

On average, a Kōkā lays 2 eggs per clutch. These eggs are quite small, measuring 27.5 mm in width, and have a distinctive stone-coloured appearance with purplish and brown spots.

The female Kōkā takes on the responsibility of incubation, keeping the eggs warm for a mean period of 18 days.

Kōkā are wattlebirds, and one of their notable features is their ability to fly. They are capable of flight, which is a testament to their adaptability in their native New Zealand environment.

Some species of kōkā, like the tieke or saddleback, are also known to be wattlebirds.