Kōkako hit record numbers in Hūnua Ranges after baby boom in the bush
Kōkako have hit record numbers in the Hūnua Ranges after a baby boom in the bush.
Auckland council’s latest kōkako census recorded 418 breeding pairs across the Hunua ranges, a 61 percent increase since the last census in 2022.
Principal ranger Miranda Bennett said a thriving kōkako population was one of the best indicators of forest health.
“When kōkako are thriving, we know many other native birds, insects and wildlife are benefiting too.”
Seeing so many young birds was exactly what rangers wanted, Bennett said.
“It tells us breeding has been successful over multiple seasons and that these youngsters are surviving long enough to join the breeding population themselves.”
It typically takes around two years for a fledgling kōkako to establish a territory and enter the breeding population, she said.
Bennett said survey teams often observed younger birds following the older birds ones around, eager to learn the ropes.
“It’s a bit like watching a group of toddlers or teenagers hanging around older siblings or parents in an annoying fashion trying to learn, pushing the limits and figuring out where they belong.”
Researchers have estimated around 500 kōkako lived in the Hunua ranges in the 1950s, but by the late 1960s the numbers had crashed to around 50 birds, and in 1994 there were just 25 birds remaining.
Auckland councillor Richard Hills said the record numbers in the latest survey were cause for celebration.
“Congratulations to mana whenua, every volunteer, ranger, council staff members, and contractor who has worked so hard to turn their vision, passion and work into this incredible comeback for a population that was nearly wiped out.
“Every Aucklander contributes to this success through their Natural Envrionment Targeted Rate. It’s fantastic to see native species not only recovering but expanding across the region.”
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