Navigation for Our Changing World
Forests and Islands
-
Forty feathered needles in a forest haystack
12 Aug 2021How do you find a tiny robin in a whole lot of forest? Researchers have been tracking the movements of forty North Island robins, or toutouwai, that have been reintroduced to a large reserve area near… Audio
-
Weka: a wily but wary bird
18 Feb 2021Ornithologist and author Ralph Powlesland is intimately acquainted with the weka families on the regenerating Marlborough Sounds farm where he lives. Audio
-
Kākā TV - teaching smart parrots new tricks
31 Oct 2019Kākā and kea are well-known for being intelligent, and PhD student Daniel Donoghue is interested in how they learn new things. Audio
-
NZ falcons thriving in logged pine plantations
13 Dec 2018Rare native New Zealand falcons are thriving in some unexpected places, including recently logged pine forests. Audio
-
Tracking kākāpō the smart way
23 Mar 2017Smart electronic transmitters are revolutionising the way Department of Conservation rangers keep track of kākāpō. Audio
-
Kākāpō - what genes can tell us
6 Oct 2016A new genetic study shows that a once abundant kākāpō population declined in numbers and genetic diversity soon after stoats were introduced in the late 1800s. Audio
-
Smart kaka - can you teach old parrots new tricks?
The kaka, or forest parrot, has had its IQ tested for the first time - and in some experiments young naive birds were better problem solvers than older birds that were stuck in their ways. Video, Audio
-
Hand-rearing kākāpō chicks
Veronika Meduna visits a veterinary facility in Invercargill where staff look after kākāpō chicks that had to be taken off their island homes to be hand-reared. Audio
-
Booming kakapo numbers
25 Feb 2016The endangered kakapo is in the middle of a bumper breeding year that looks set to be the best ever, and conservationists are looking foward to the resulting population boom. Audio, Gallery
-
Genome sequencing every living kakapo
4 Feb 2016In an ambitious world-first, scientists are using crowd-funding to pay for genome sequences for all 125 living kakapo - the first time an entire population will be sequenced. Audio
-
Why kakariki are losing their feathers
Tiny skin mites are causing mange and feather loss amongst red-crowned parakeets on Tiritiri Matangi Island, and a screening programme is keeping an eye on the problem Audio, Gallery
-
North Island Brown Kiwi Genome
The genome of the North Island brown kiwi has just been published by an international team of researchers Video, Audio
-
The Dark Side of Being An Urban Parrot - Kaka and Lead
The kaka from Zealandia Sanctuary are an urban success story, but they are developing lead poisoning, probably from chewing roofing nails and old lead paint. Audio
-
Hihi - Our Smallest Honeyeater
Hihi, or stitchbirds, are New Zealand's smallest 'honeyeater', and need extra sugar to help them survive on Kapiti Island Audio
-
Aging Males and In-bred Kiwi: Genetic Updates
Two new studies report a decline in sperm quality in older males, and poor breeding success as a result of inbreeding in little spotted kiwi populations Audio
-
Bird Brains - Measuring the IQ of Bush Robins
Wild robins are the perfect subjects for a study looking at how smart birds are, and whether being smart helps them raise more chicks Audio
-
Great Kereru Count
25 Sep 2014A citizen science project to count kereru, or New Zealand pigeons, will help identify how common they are around the country Audio
-
Rowi - the Rarest Kiwi
24 Apr 2014Rowi are New Zealand's rarest kiwi, and 'egg rescues' that see chicks hatched and raised in captivity have resulted in a big increase in the bird's numbers Audio
-
Long-tailed Cuckoos on Little Barrier Island
Catching long-tailed cuckoos to attach satellite transmitters and track their movements is a frustrating exercise. Audio
-
Kakariki in the capital
14 Nov 2013Red-crowned parakeets, or kakariki, are making themselves at home in Wellington's Zealandia sanctuary. Audio
-
Kakapo on Hauturu-Little Barrier Island
24 Oct 2013Nine kakapo have been moved to Hauturu-Little Barrier Island, and ranger Leigh Joyce is using new technology to manage them Audio
-
Cuckoos and the Endemic Mohouidae Bird Family
19 Sep 2013Three small forest birds, which are host to shining cuckoo chicks, have been placed in a new endemic bird family Audio
-
Duncan the Kokako's Adventure
4 Jul 2013After a 2-year disappearance Duncan the kokako was tracked down in Glendowie then returned to west Auckland Audio
-
Evolution of Saddleback Songs
27 Jun 2013As tieke have been translocated between islands interesting things have been happening to their calls Audio
-
Urban Kaka
20 Jun 2013Kaka are large native forest parrots that are having an impact on trees in parks and gardens in central Wellington city Audio
-
Little Spotted Kiwi and Genetic Research
24 Jan 2013Investigating the effects of genetic bottlenecks on the breeding success of kiwi at Zealandia and Long Island Audio
-
Kereru in Wellington
24 May 2012Monica Awasthy did her PhD on kereru in Wellington, to find out where they feed and breed. Audio
-
Relocating Kokako
29 Sep 2011Conservationists catch kokako to reintroduce the birds into the Waitakere Ranges Audio
-
NZ's Smallest Bird
University of Auckland PhD student Sarah Withers introduces the rifleman, NZ's smallest native land bird. Audio
-
Recording Kiwi Calls
10 Jun 2010Andrew Digby is recording the calls of little spotted kiwi in the Zealandia Sanctuary Audio
-
Chatham Tui Release (Part 2)
29 Apr 2010The release of forty young tui into the Awatotara Valley is an historic occasion shared by many Chatham Islanders Audio
-
Chatham Island Tui Translocation (Part 1)
22 Apr 2010The Taiko Trust's 'Tui Team' are on Rangatira Island, attempting to catch 40 tui to move to the main Chatham Island Audio
-
Fiordland Kiwi
The Department of Conservation's Jane Tansell takes Alison Ballance to find a northern Fiordland tokoeka Audio
-
Daily Chores in Kakapo Management
23 Apr 2009The final episode of the kakapo series traces the daily routines of managing the flightless parrots. Audio
-
Molecular Genetics and Kakapo
9 Apr 2009Molecular genetics is revealing paternity and family relationships in the kakapo population. Audio
-
Robins in Douglas Fir Plantations
2 Apr 2009Zoologists Graham Parker and Ian Jamieson are interested in whether Douglas fir plantations make good robin homes Audio
-
Science and Kakapo
26 Mar 2009Science plays an integral role in the Kakapo Recovery Programme, and evolutionary theory has proved a reality on the ground Audio
-
Okarito Kiwi Get a New Home
Rowi are New Zealand's rarest kiwi species, and some have been transferred to Blumine Island to encourage them to breed. Audio
-
Kakapo Rediscovery and Frozen Sperm Bank
12 Mar 2009A kakapo is rediscovered after being missing for 21 years, and the Sperm Team create a frozen sperm bank Audio
-
Robin Genetics on Ulva Island
26 Feb 2009Ian Jamieson's genetic research on robins on Ulva Island has revealed some surprising findings about the risk of inbreeding Audio
-
Kakapo Sperm Collection and Artificial Insemination
26 Feb 2009Spanish expert Juan Blanco is helping the National Kakapo Team's attempt to add rare Fiordland genes to the kakapo population Audio
-
Rimu Fruit And Kakapo Breeding
Kakapo scientists explain of role rimu fruit in synchronising kakapo breeding and providing food for chicks. Audio
-
Kakapo Breeding Season
29 Jan 2009Kakapo programme manager Deidre Vercoe and surrogate 'mum' Daryl Eason prepare for a promising breeding season for the parrots. Audio
-
Kokako dialects
18 Dec 2008A team of biologists explain the rich repertoire of regional kokako dialects. Audio
-
Kokako on Tiritiri Matangi Island
18 Dec 2008Tertia Thurley and Morag Fordham search for kokako nests on the island sanctuary. Audio
-
Robins on Tiritiri Matangi Island
11 Dec 2008Massey University scientist Barbara Egli tries to work out family connections between the island's robins. Audio
-
Hihi Nest Search on Tiritiri Matangi Island
4 Dec 2008Leila Walker and Rose Thorogood take Alison Ballance to check out hihi nests on Tiritiri Matangi Island. Audio
-
Saddleback Genetics
24 Apr 2008Snaring saddlebacks at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary to measure their genetic diversity. Audio
-
The Hihi at Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre
6 Mar 2008The Hihi - or Stitchbird - is a small nectar-drinking native with some unusual characteristics. Audio
Gallery
Some of the birds that feature in these stories
More About Birds on Radio New Zealand
-
Ngā Manu
Listen to all of the bird calls from Morning Report. -
Birdwatching on This Way Up
Finding out about New Zealand's birds with birdwatcher Hugh Robertson. -
The Secret Life of Bird Calls
The first songs that echoed across this land came from birds.