<p>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.</p><p><strong><em>Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to [email protected].</em></strong></p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><p>00:00 – Introduction</p><p>01:25 - Youngest female to mate</p><p>04:53 - Daryl Eason on Artificial insemination progress</p><p>09:17 - Maddy Whittaker with mating and nesting updates</p><p>16:00 - Jake Osborne on the kākāpō nest cam</p><p>20:32 - Closing credits&#8230;</p><p><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/wild-sounds?share=6a5b4790-1040-440c-a78e-665457c96574">Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details</a></p>