BirdingNZ.net

Hi all, BirdLife International is launching a global bid to try to confirm the continued existence of 47 species of bird that have not been seen for up to 184 years.
The thought of stumbling across a bird that has not been seen by any living person is truly evocative and i can only imagine the feelings Brent and Sav had when they realised they had rediscovered the NZ Stormie or David Crockett with the Taiko or Geoffrey Orbell with the Takahe.
What else is still to be re-found in NZ? Is a Huia lurking unseen in some remote ravine? a piopio or bush wren somewhere in the thickest native forest ? more fanciful is a climber going to look up from some craggy ledge one day and see a Laughing owl looking down on him? or is New Zealand still harbouring a species new to science somewhere in deepest Fiordland?
I personally believe the world hasn't heard the last of NZ as far as refinding lost species is concerned and i would love to hear some of the stories we've all heard about "old farmer giles had a moa on his farm up till the 60s" etc etc
Happy Birding, Gary.

A few years ago when on a trip looking for the SI Kokako one of the people there mentioned hearing strange laughing calls which he took to be Laughing Owl at Lake Kaurapataka up a side stream off the Taramakau River in the western part of Arthur's Pass NP. If they weren't the lost owl, or someone playing a joke, it would be interesting to know what the calls were - maybe a seabird?

I got another report this year, via another source, of an overseas tourist who was misled into going to an old hut in S Canterbury (near where the species was last reported) and reported strange laughing calls that he believed matched the extinct owl - after going home and the subject coming up in conversation with someone a few months later.

I believe SIKIT (the South Island Kokako Investigation Trust) is still going. Ron Nilsson is asking for help with further search(es). The following was recently posted in an email to Canterbury OSNZ members. Having heard a Kokako-like call once in the bush near the Lewis Pass about 5 years ago (and a number of Tui mimicking calls elsewhere) I think there is a distinct possibility the SI species is still extant though in tiny numbers and very difficult to see.

Nick Allen

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“Hunt For The Grey Ghost”

Kokako 2009 – 2010.


Recently, I have been fortunate enough to have the offer of a small amount of sponsorship money to resume the search for the South Island kokako. I would like to put some considerable time and effort into searching areas where presumed kokako have been heard or sighted within the last 5 years or so.
This will take place at varying intervals over the next 12 months – weather dependant. The areas of interest are from N.W. Nelson, Buller region, North Westland, Canterbury, South Westland and Fiordland.
I envisage a team effort, based on sharing information and expertise. If you would like to do something different, have a sense of humour and be part of an adventure that will leave you with a “wow” factor then this could be for you! Not all kokako sites require hours of tramping. Some are at the end of 4xWD. Roads. If an individual was to accompany me on all planned trips I can promise that you would hear the presumed extinct South Island kokako!
If you feel that you cannot take part but would still like to be part of the team. There is an important part that you could contribute too. May be you would like to donate a tank of diesel fuel, or pay for a bank of batteries? Believe me every effort will help! This maybe the last great “kokako hunt”?? Contact me

Ron Nilsson
Phone 03 9426484
Mobile 027 3089939
Email ronandsue @ paradise.net.nz

I believe that Huia could've been present in the Wairarapa as late as the late 60's early 70's.

I heard a story from an old mate a couple of years back who, although we was just a takker running around in the bush at the time, recalls seeing one and going home to point it out in a book.

Then to add to that I read an article, published in the 1980's in British Birds magazine about a woman who visit NZ from the UK in '68. She described in the article that she saw two pitch black birds with white tail band fly across a valley in the wellington region, and although told several people about it, she also expalained in the article that her sighting was not taken seriously here in NZ at the time.

Bummer eh.