Yesterday we attended a ceremony at Kaharoa Forest to meet the people who are gifting the Manawahe Kokako Trust 3 pairs of kokako to boost our birds’ chance of survival. Representatives of the local iwi and the Kaharoa Kokako trust warmly welcomed us and gave blessings for the translocation and the birds. We feel the weight of our responsibility to ensure we make it as easy as possible for these birds to successfully integrate into their new environment and gratitude for the gift of life from the Kaharoa Kokako Trust and the people of Ngati Rangiwewehi and Tapuika.




To prepare a catch site, volunteers from Manawahe Kokako Trust created a clearing 6m x 12m with a very tall tree at each end. Using a sling shot, Dave shot ropes over the trees to attach the nets to and then called in the birds. Dave and Amanda had spent days watching the birds before deciding where to put the nets, there is nothing at all random about the process. Once caught, the birds are quickly untangled and health checked before a harness carrying a transmitter is attached. They are put into purpose built boxes with a roost and lots of nutritious berries and leaves and transported as quickly as possible to their new home. And on the next two days, the whole process is repeated.
Wow, brilliant!
Ha, some familiar faces and names. 🙂 We know Amanda and Dave from mist-netting hihi at Bushy Park in my hometown, Whanganui. Such fantastic work they get up to!
-Emma
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Its a small community of amazing professionals. Thank goodness for you all, Emma, saving our precious species.
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