Native Birds
What is a native bird?
What exactly is, and is not, considered a native bird? And how is this decided? It seems like a simple question but it could be harder to define than we think. Whanganui Regional Museum curator of… Audio
Predator-free in the city
Wellington's Polhill Restoration Project volunteers are looking after rare birds such as nesting kaka and tieke that are spilling into the 'halo' around Zealandia Sanctuary. Video, Audio, Gallery
Fears protected birds shot dead
At least five protected fluttering shearwaters may have been shot dead near Little Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf.
Falcon's habitat under threat
The natural habitat of New Zealand's at-risk native falcon is under threat from development, scientists say.
Mena the penguin-detector dog
Alastair Judkins is a penguin hunter - and his secret weapon is a 'super nose', a dog called Mena. Alison Ballance joins them on a little penguin search in Wellington. Audio
Plans to boost kiwi numbers above 100,000 by 2030
The Government has unveiled a new plan to boost kiwi numbers above 100-thousand by 2030, but the Greens say it relies on more than a million dollars from charity to work. Audio
Takahē - back from the brink
Joan Watson was there when takahē were rediscoverd in 1948, and DOC ranger Glen Greaves says the population of the giant flightless bird has just reached 300. Video, Audio
The face of modern conservation?
Auckland Zoo is celebrating Conservation Week by relocating 10 wild saddlebacks from Tiritiri Matangi Island, to be on display at the zoo's Te Wao Nui forest aviary. But is this how modern… Audio
The garden bird survey turns 10
More than a million birds have been counted in the last nine years of the garden bird survey, and sparrows and silvereyes consistently top the rankings. Audio
The Cacophony Project - Grant Ryan
The sound of the local dawn chorus is set to become louder, if Grant Ryan has anything to do with it. He's invented a Cacophonometer... or simply put, a bit of hardware that's in the bush, that… Audio
Making grounds for the humble pigeon
Pigeons are part and parcel of our urban landscape and there are at least 400 million pigeons worldwide. But how did they come to be in our cities and how do you feel about them? A show in Wellington… Audio
Hi-Viz Cats - Heidi Kikillus
Victoria University and Wellington City Council are working together on a new study into high visibility cat collars. Audio
Get set to start counting Kereru
The annual great Kereru count asks people from all over New Zealand to record their sightings of the bird over a nine day period. Dr Stephen Hartley is from Victoria Universitys School of Biological… Audio
Dog hunts stoat in sanctuary where rare birds wiped out
A Dunedin bird sanctuary is pulling out all stops to hunt a killer stoat which has wiped out a rare bird colony. Audio
Bird Funding Crisis - Nicola Toki
New Zealand's native birds have encountered all sorts of challenges to stay alive over the past century or two - introduced pests, predators and loss of habitat. But now their struggle for survival is… Audio
SPCA under fire over stray cat programme
One of the country's top wildlife vets has criticised the SPCA for neutering stray cats and sending them back into the wild.
Three more takahē for Motutapu
Three takahē have been released onto Motutapu Island, a fortnight after four of the endangered birds were shot dead during a botched pukeko cull.
Tui suffer lead poisoning
For the first time ever tui have been found with lead poisoning and nobody can figure out how it got into the birds' food chain. Audio
Tui discovered with lead poisoning for the first time ever
For the first time ever, tui have been found with lead poisoning. Audio
Wellington Zoo vet nurse - Sarah van Herpt
Rehabilitation of native birds and zoo animals. The zoo has just had its busiest summer, with 50-60 sick and traumatised native birds admitted to the hospital each month. Ex zoo-keeper, now vet nurse… Audio