Wild Sounds: Kākāpō Files II

Fourteen kākāpō chicks have hatched in wild nests, where they are being cared for by mums and foster mums. More than a hundred viable fertile eggs have already been laid, with more expected in the next couple of weeks. On Whenua Hou, fertile eggs are cared for in incubators to keep them safe and are returned to nests to hatch. DOC’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme has placed a Smart Egg in the nest of Kākāpō Cam star Rakiura, to alert her to the imminent arrival of a pipping egg whose hatching should delight the many fans watching the live video feed. Pukenui/Anchor Island is home to the most kākāpō chicks so far but kākāpō rangers expect Whenua Hou to catch up soon. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to [email protected] this episode:00:00 – Introduction01:15 – Night-time visit to Rakiura’s nest07:26 - The egg room11:43 - Seabird danger to eggs13:05 - Smart Eggs14:54 – Nest and egg updates20:20 - Closing credits…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The first chick of the 2026 kākāpō breeding season has successfully hatched on Pukenui/Anchor Island. DOC’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme reports that Tiwhiri-A1-2026 hatched in foster mother Yasmine’s nest on 14 February 2026 and is the first kākāpō chick in four years. Huhū-A1-2026 is due to hatch on Whenua Hou imminently. Sixty-two kākāpō nests have been found so far and the egg tally is nearly 200, of which 78 are known to be fertile. More eggs are expected. Alison Ballance visits Whenua Hou, meets some of the kākāpō rangers and reports on the technology that enables the Kākāpō Team to conduct 24-hour surveillance on each bird. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to [email protected] this episode:00:00 – Introduction00:50 - First chick hatches04:28 – Nest and egg updates06:26 – Kākāpō technology07:26 – Nest tech11:22 - The train station13:32 - Nest controller16:09 - Morning updates18:28 - Closing credits…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Almost 90% of adult female kākāpō of breeding age have mated so far this breeding season, and two thirds of those are nesting. Some birds have already laid a full clutch of eggs and while some clutches are 100% fertile, others are - as expected - unfortunately infertile. To date there are 55 fertile kākāpō eggs, and that number grows daily as kākāpō rangers find nests and are able to check the developing eggs. Alison Ballance checks in from Whenua Hou, where technical advisor Daryl Eason is nearing the end of the artificial insemination programme. He is excited that a ‘lost’ female has been found and wonders if she is also nesting.Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to [email protected] this episode:00:00 – Introduction01:02 – Nest and egg updates05:43 – A ‘lost’ bird is refound08:00 – Waikawa, layer of fertile eggs08:38 - Closing creditsLearn more:Follow the Kākāpō Files podcast to keep up to dateWatch the livestreaming kākāpō nest cam of Rakiura on her nestListen to the Voice of the Kākāpō series for a recap of the 2019 breeding seasonAlso listen to the episodes covering the interim 2022 breeding season, and about how a few male kākāpō have fared in the North Island, in the fenced Sanctuary Mountain MaungatautariFor more New Zealand science and nature find and follow the Our Changing World podcast, and subscribe to the show’s monthly newsletterGuests:Technical advisor, Daryl Eason, Kākāpō Recovery ProgrammeKākāpō Files is made in collaboration with the Department of Conservation’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

More than three-quarters of female kākāpō of breeding age have mated so far, and the number of nests is growing rapidly. Kākāpō operations manager Deidre Vercoe tells Alison Ballance that 101 eggs have been laid to date, and while it is early days 38 eggs are known to be fertile. As always, infertile eggs are a major problem, although science advisor Andrew Digby explains that recent research shows that many eggs are in fact fertilised but die in the first day or two. And Deidre says that the Kākāpō Recovery Programme takes threats such as the fungal disease aspergillosis, failure of the rimu fruit to ripen and the possible arrival of highly pathogenic bird flu in New Zealand very seriously.Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to [email protected] this episode:00:00 – Introduction00:57 – Mating update03.28 – Nesting update and 101 eggs09:13 – Bird of the Week: Kākāpō Cam star Rakiura10:34 – Egg infertility12:12 – Threats including aspergillosis and bird flu14:15 - Closing credits…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The 2026 kākāpō breeding season is all systems go: nearly half of the females of breeding age have mated and so far 15 females are nesting. Technical Advisor Daryl Eason talks about record-breaking female Ongaonga who, at 4 years-old, is the youngest female kākāpō ever to breed. There are plenty of other first-time breeders as well. Six females were successfully inseminated with sperm from under-represented males. Ranger Maddy Whitaker updates us with the latest numbers, including a single fertile egg so far, and tech expert Jake Osborne introduces the kākāpō nest cam, beaming live from Rakiura’s nest on Whenua Hou.Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to [email protected] this episode:00:00 – Introduction01:25 - Youngest female to mate04:53 - Daryl Eason on Artificial insemination progress09:17 - Maddy Whittaker with mating and nesting updates16:00 - Jake Osborne on the kākāpō nest cam20:32 - Closing credits…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details