birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
Always hopeful.....🤞
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South Island Kokako......? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter birdboybowley
- Start date
Always hopeful.....🤞
MJB
Well-known member
There's a lot of habitat in a lot of mountain valleys in Kahurangi NP, but since it is popular hiking country, there are a good few huts, including the ominously-named Asbestos Cottage...
MJB
James Lowther
Well-known member
not too far from the last accepted record in 2007 (Reefton area). But far enough to not be a rediscovery of the same population.
cheers,
James
cheers,
James
Strontium Dog
Well-known member
pbjosh
missing the neotropics
There are also photos circulating just now, purported to be a potential SI Kokako (I don't know if it is the same purported sighting as the one mentioned in the birdguides write up), that show what is most certainly a New Zealand Falcon. While there is perhaps still a small chance that this bird persists, it's increasingly another Thylacine or Ivory-billed WP situation where there are myriad unsubstantiated reports and never any actual evidence.
edenwatcher
Well-known member
This is apparently different. See South Island Kokako Charitable Trust FB page.
Rob
Rob
Maffong
Well-known member
The pictures show quite clearly a NZ Falcon and the Trust has acknowledged it in the accompanying FB thread
edenwatcher
Well-known member
Indeed, but the Birdguides article refers to a totally different report mentioned on their FB page which sounds much more promising.
Rob
Maffong
Well-known member
While I envy your optimism, the tales of Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Thylacine and countless own experiences with short glimpses of potential megas that subsequently turned out to be mich more common and expected species, have taught me to become more sceptical of sightings that involve some level of uncertainty, especially if non-experts are involved in the claims.
Just last week I chased a potential Snowy Owl, that turned out to be a much more likely white morph buzzard.
In short, I want to believe, but I don't
Just last week I chased a potential Snowy Owl, that turned out to be a much more likely white morph buzzard.
In short, I want to believe, but I don't
edenwatcher
Well-known member
Not necessarily optimistic, but a report worth pursuing - unlike the NZ Falcon...
Rob
Rob
Paul Chapman
Well-known member
I suppose that it depends really on the 2007 sighting. If that really stacks up, the gap of 1967 to 2007 gives some degree of faith that this could be a genuine sighting but the large number of probable reports with no pics or confirmed recordings has a familiar pattern.
Be interested in informed comment on historical status & patterns of occurrence rather than what I have just gleaned on an Internet search!
Everything crossed.
All the best
Pauk
Be interested in informed comment on historical status & patterns of occurrence rather than what I have just gleaned on an Internet search!
Everything crossed.
All the best
Pauk
Jon.Bryant
Well-known member
Interesting that Birds of the World states
‘CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (POSSIBLY EXTINCT). Restricted-range species: now confined, if still survives, to South Island of New Zealand EBA. The last confirmed sightings of this species were made in 2007 (2), and before that in 1967 (4); with recent reports deemed perhaps not to be credible (5), it is now considered extinct by many. If it is still extant, its population must be exceedingly small and perhaps still declining because of invasive predators. Subfossil bones are common in deposits all over South Island. Its range was reduced across much of E South Island following Maori settlement, but remained locally common in some remote areas into the 1870s but declined markedly through the 1880s until few fragmented populations remained by 1900. Most records were from W coast of South Island from NW Nelson to Fiordland, but with reports also from Marlborough, Banks Peninsula, Arthurs Pass, Mt Cargill, Catlins, Southland and Stewart I. Historical decline was the result of large-scale habitat destruction and fragmentation, and the introduction of predators and competitors. Predation of eggs and chicks by black rats (Rattus rattus) and brush-tailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) led to frequent nest failure, while deaths of nesting adult females were due to predation by stoats (Mustela erminea). These predators, all introduced, are currently the main threat to the species. Moreover, brush-tailed possums compete for many of the birds’ preferred food items, and introduced deer and goats destroy understorey foodplants. Earlier forest destruction for logging has also been a major factor, as the species is thought to require fairly large tracts of forest. Most of the remaining habitat is protected, and efforts to locate individuals of this species continue to be made (6), with sightings still being claimed. There is an urgent need to continue with surveys in order to determine whether this species still survives.’
The last sentence needs no explanation to anyone who has visited NZ. Although DOC are working hard to eradicate intrusive species, it is a tough job, with no sign of an end to the tunnel.
If the bird does hang on anywhere, it would seem most likely in a remote and wooded valley, where introduced species are unknown or scarce (at the moment).
The race is surely and sadly on between discovery and protection of any remaining birds, and extinction.
It is a sad fact that introduced species have raised havoc in NZ, and many of the native birds would likely to be extinct, if it was not for large scale intervention - the iconic Black Stilt for one.
‘CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (POSSIBLY EXTINCT). Restricted-range species: now confined, if still survives, to South Island of New Zealand EBA. The last confirmed sightings of this species were made in 2007 (2), and before that in 1967 (4); with recent reports deemed perhaps not to be credible (5), it is now considered extinct by many. If it is still extant, its population must be exceedingly small and perhaps still declining because of invasive predators. Subfossil bones are common in deposits all over South Island. Its range was reduced across much of E South Island following Maori settlement, but remained locally common in some remote areas into the 1870s but declined markedly through the 1880s until few fragmented populations remained by 1900. Most records were from W coast of South Island from NW Nelson to Fiordland, but with reports also from Marlborough, Banks Peninsula, Arthurs Pass, Mt Cargill, Catlins, Southland and Stewart I. Historical decline was the result of large-scale habitat destruction and fragmentation, and the introduction of predators and competitors. Predation of eggs and chicks by black rats (Rattus rattus) and brush-tailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) led to frequent nest failure, while deaths of nesting adult females were due to predation by stoats (Mustela erminea). These predators, all introduced, are currently the main threat to the species. Moreover, brush-tailed possums compete for many of the birds’ preferred food items, and introduced deer and goats destroy understorey foodplants. Earlier forest destruction for logging has also been a major factor, as the species is thought to require fairly large tracts of forest. Most of the remaining habitat is protected, and efforts to locate individuals of this species continue to be made (6), with sightings still being claimed. There is an urgent need to continue with surveys in order to determine whether this species still survives.’
The last sentence needs no explanation to anyone who has visited NZ. Although DOC are working hard to eradicate intrusive species, it is a tough job, with no sign of an end to the tunnel.
If the bird does hang on anywhere, it would seem most likely in a remote and wooded valley, where introduced species are unknown or scarce (at the moment).
The race is surely and sadly on between discovery and protection of any remaining birds, and extinction.
It is a sad fact that introduced species have raised havoc in NZ, and many of the native birds would likely to be extinct, if it was not for large scale intervention - the iconic Black Stilt for one.
