North Island kokako are one of New Zealand’s most iconic birds — a member of a unique family of birds known as the New Zealand wattlebirds. They are also one of our conservation success stories. The total population fell to about 330 pairs in 1999. Since then control of exotic pest mammals has allowed them to increase to around 1600 pairs. They now only survive in areas with intensive control of possums and ship rats.
Anyone who has tried to see kokako in the wild will know how elusive they are. Their haunting song heard more often than the bird is seen. When they are seen, they are often high in the forest canopy, or scurrying though dark undergrowth, making photography almost impossible. The best places to see and photograph kokako is on pest-free islands where the forest canopy is not too tall. Tiritiri Matangi is ideal. I’ve photographed a few kokako on Tiri, as well as Little Barrier Island. A recent client request prompted me to edit and upload some kokako photos to my gallery.
