NEW ZEALAND BIRDING NETWORK

(Photo: Kim Westerskov)

The kokako is a member of the ancient endemic Callaeidae family of wattlebirds. With short rounded wings they prefer to leap and bound through the forest on long legs and their mournful call is all but lost from the mainland forests of New Zealand. An exciting new conservation initiative, called 'mainland islands', is enabling this bird to survive and thrive in mainland areas where intensive pest management is being undertaken. There are opportunities to see this bird on Tiritiri Matangi Island on our 'NZ Aoteoroa' tour and at a mainland island site on our 'Islands of Survival' Tour.


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