Callaeas cinerea (South Island Kokako)

[Melanie]

Milne 2014. Evidence for the continued existence of the South Island kokako (Callaeas cinerea) drawn from reports collected between January 1990 and June 2012. Notornis 61(3): 137–143. abstract notornis.osnz.org.nz/node/4275

[surroundx]

Mlíkovský, Jiří. (2012). Extinct and nearly extinct birds in the collections of the National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic. Journal of the National Museum (Prague), Natural History Series 181(9): 95-123. [automatic download]

[surroundx]

Harper, G. A. (2009). The native forest birds of Stewart Island/Rakiura: patterns of recent declines and extinctions. Notornis 56(2): 63-81.

[Sebbe]

Vagrant and extra-limital bird records accepted by the OSNZ Records Appraisal Committee 2011-2012

One seen among red beech/rimu forest at Rainy Creek, Upper Inangahua Valley, Reefton, on 21 & 22 Mar 2007 (Len Turner & Peter Rudolf; UBRs 2009/10 & 2013/01e) was the first record of South Island kokako accepted by the RAC or its predecessor the Rare Birds Committee since their establishment in 1974 (Kinsky 1975). The previous last accepted sighting was in Mount Aspiring National Park in 1967 (McBride 1981; Gill et al. 2010). As the record is so extraordinary, we here include an excerpt from the submission:


On 21 March 2007 at 0945 hours Len Turner heard a call he described as a haunting resonating call (“an eerie call like an Aboriginal wailing”) that he had not heard before. About 15 minutes later he saw at close range (10-15 metres) an unusual bird with the following description. The plumage of the bird was steely grey with a bluish tinge. Most distinct were the wattles on the sides of its bill. The base of the wattles was a deep matt blue and the remainder (the larger part) ochre (“fleshy orange brown”). The bird appeared to be curious, looking at Len, turning its head from side to side. He viewed the bird for about 30 seconds then it glided away with some heavy dull wing flapping. Len noted the rounded edge of the wings in flight, and described the flight as clumsy. Further evidence of the presence of kokako was obtained the following day when Peter Rudolf (an experienced North Island kokako observer) and Len re-visited the site. At 1040 hrs very distinctive kokako-like heavy wing beats were heard about 60 m from the observers. Soon after this Len saw a bird making giant leaps up the trunk of a rimu. Unfortunately identification wasn’t possible due to the position of the sun. Peter didn’t see the bird hopping up the trunk but saw the bird glide off from a branch. Peter identified the bird as a kokako due to its size, colour (a light grey), its wingspan and flight. “The bird did a very shallow glide 3° approx.”. “As it glided it produced a few intermittent very shallow wing beats (no sound).” The two observers attempted to get a closer view of the bird but were not successful.

www.researchgate.net/publication/278038394_Vagrant_and_extra-limital_bird_records_accepted_by_the_OSNZ_Records_Appraisal_Committee_2011-2012

[Sebbe]

It looks like the South Island Kokako Charitable Trust have undertaken a number of surveys in 2015, with remote recording equipment installed at a few sites, sadly without results so far.

www.facebook.com/SIKCT

[Melanie]

Once-extinct Kokako sighting near Nelson 'the best in many years'

A potential sighting of the once-extinct South Island kokako has been described by a local ornithologist as "one of the best sightings in many years".

Hamish Clarke and his wife and sister were visiting from Kerikeri when they saw a bird "too big for a tui, not a morepork, a shag or a hawk" on the Cable Bay walkway.

"It was a bit in the shadows but it turned and it had these big orange wattles. It looked like a tui with a nicotine stain.

www.stuff.co.nz/environment/78378330/once-extinct-kokako-sighting-near-nelson-the-best-in-many-years

[surroundx]

Anmarkrud, Jarl Andreas and Lifjeld, Jan T. (In Press, 2016). Complete mitochondrial genomes of eleven extinct or possibly extinct bird species. Molecular Ecology Resources. DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12600 [Abstract]

[surroundx]

Worthy, Trevor H. (1993). Fossils of Honeycomb Hill. Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington. 56 pp.

[Sebbe]

Extinct and endangered species and subspecies of birds in the Baillon Collection, La Châtre, France

Abstract. The Baillon Collection houses 2,478 mounted bird specimens. In this paper, I list and comment 30 bird specimens from 21 extinct and endangered taxa.

www.researchgate.net/publication/280563057_Extinct_and_endangered_species_and_subspecies_of_birds_in_the_Baillon_Collection_La_Chatre_France

[surroundx]

New website address for the Grey Ghost: www.southislandkokako.org/

[Melanie]

Wanted: Proof of life for South Island kōkako

www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/01/wanted-proof-of-life-for-south-island-kokako.html

[surroundx]

What to look for if searching for the bird: www.southislandkokako.org/the-search/

[Melanie]

Kōkako Reward Matched by the Morgan Foundation – Now $10,000

www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1704/S00037/kokako-reward-matched-by-the-morgan-foundation-now-10000.htm

[Melanie]

Presumed-extinct South Island Kokako might have been heard

www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/presumed-extinct-south-island-kokako-might-have-been-heard/

[RSN]

"Listen: is this the call of the Grey Ghost?"

www.nzgeo.com/stories/listen-is-this-the-call-of-the-grey-ghost/

[alexanderlang]

Look, what birds lay there in the lower left corner!

www.portrait.gov.au/portraits/2009.55/portrait-of-dr-johann-reinhold-forster-and

[Melanie]

Sept 24, 2017 16:06:00 GMT alexanderlang said:

Look, what birds lay there in the lower left corner!

www.portrait.gov.au/portraits/2009.55/portrait-of-dr-johann-reinhold-forster-and

Though painted in London, the Forsters’ portrait is set in New Zealand. Johann is depicted with a sprig of Forstera sedifolia tucked in his hatband and a bellbird (Anthornis melanura) in his hand; specimens of a wattlebird, a saddleback and a honeyeater lie lifeless on the ground.

[alexanderlang]

Sept 24, 2017 19:50:51 GMT Melanie said:

Though painted in London, the Forsters’ portrait is set in New Zealand. Johann is depicted with a sprig of Forstera sedifolia tucked in his hatband and a bellbird (Anthornis melanura) in his hand; specimens of a wattlebird [it's the South Island Kokako], a saddleback and a honeyeater lie lifeless on the ground.

[surroundx]

Oct 1, 2014 20:31:07 GMT Melanie said:

Milne 2014. Evidence for the continued existence of the South Island kokako (Callaeas cinerea) drawn from reports collected between January 1990 and June 2012. Notornis 61(3): 137–143. abstract notornis.osnz.org.nz/node/4275

Full paper now freely available: notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Milne%20%26%20Stocker%202014.pdf

Huge amount of very interesting supplementary info (sighting reports) also available: notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Milne%20%26%20Stocker%20supplementary.pdf

[Melanie]

Over 100 'sightings' of extinct South Island kōkako

www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12066913