Birds
Behind-the-scenes of the kākāpō health crisis
Kākāpō death toll from aspergillosis rises by one to seven, while nine birds have been given a clean bill of health. Sad and positive news from the frontline of the fight to save kākāpō, in ep 20 of… Video, Audio
Successful new seabird colony on Matiu Somes Island
Eight years ago volunteers began translocating fluttering shearwater chicks to Wellington's Matiu Somes Island to establish what is now a growing seabird colony. Audio
Rifleman to royal albatross - a bird atlas for NZ
The NZ bird atlas will be a 5-year project counting common & rare birds from the Kermadecs to the far south. Audio
Our Changing World for 6 June 2019
The NZ Bird Atlas is launched, a successful effort to create a new fluttering shearwater colony, Fiordland's tawaki penguins go for record-breaking long swims, and the chemical element gallium. Audio
Our Changing World for 30 May 2019
Many of Wellington's streams now run in pipes under the roads, and the aspergillosis crisis in the kakapo population grows. Audio
Kākāpō health concerns continue
The number of cases of aspergillosis in the kākāpō population continues to rise, with 30 birds on the mainland for testing & treatment. The deaths of Huhana and Merty drop the adult population to 142… Audio
Worrying times for kākāpō
A spate of kākāpō chicks deaths from a fungal pneumonia caused by aspergillosis has DOC's Kākāpō Recovery Team very worried. Two further adult deaths bring the population to 144 birds with 73 living… Audio
Amazing ancient Moa find in Central Otago
Moa footprints, that are likely the oldest record of the giant birds ever documented, have been disovered for the first time in the South Island. Thought to be millions of years old , the prints were… Audio, Gallery
Kea get a helping hand
The Kea Conservation Trust & the Arthur's Pass Wildlife Trust have combined forces to band kea as part of a citizen science project & are working to make the village a safer place for the curious… Audio
Our Changing World for 9 May 2019
The Kea Conservation Trust is working with South Island communities to better understand kea and find ways to keep them out of trouble. Audio
Our Changing World for 2 May 2019
ESR is laser scanning crime scenes, and the kakapo breeding has been busy on Anchor Island. Audio
The Kākāpō Files: Glad and sad kākāpō tidings
The death of Hoki from a fungal infection brings the number of adult kākāpō to 146, while there are 77 chicks. Ep 17 of the Kākāpō Files includes a visit to Anchor Island & all the latest news. Audio
Our Changing World for 18 April 2019
ESR is finding DNA from fingerprints and the latest kakapo news, brings chick tally to 75 with three still to hatch. Audio
Longest kākāpō breeding season
With 75 living chicks and the final three eggs due to hatch this week, the 2019 kākāpō breeding season is set to be the longest on record. All this & the sex ratio of the first 49 chicks, in ep 16 of… Audio
Why the kiwi and moa stopped flying
Researchers have found out what made two of our famous birds flightless, but with this new discovery will scientists now try to reverse it? Audio
Kākāpō chicks still hatching
Most of the 72 kākāpō chicks are thriving in wild nests, the males are winding down their booming, and there are 7 fertile eggs still to hatch, in ep 15 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Kotahitanga and kākāpō
Kākāpō chick numbers continue to climb. The latest tally is 64 chicks, including one named Kotahitanga, meaning unity and solidarity. Ep 14 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Our Changing World for 21 March 2019
Barium is a chemical element that hates being on its own, and experts from Orana Park and Auckland Zoo are looking after hand-reared kakapo chicks. Audio
Fat happy kākāpō chicks
Thirty four kākāpō chicks are putting on plenty of weight in wild nests as the rimu fruit ripens, and 23 chicks are also being hand-reared, in episode 13 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Our Changing World for 7 March 2019
We've a story about bull kelp and earthquake uplift for Seaweek, and we meet some volunteer kakapo helpers. Audio