Wild Sounds: Kākāpō Files II

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

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

Early bird Pearl has laid the first eggs of the 2026 kākāpō breeding season but Kākāpō Recovery Programme science advisor Andrew Digby tells Alison Ballance that it’s too soon to know if they are fertile. Youngsters Huhū and Hondy are the third pair to mate on Whenua Hou, and Heather and Bluster Murphy are the fourth. Hine Taumai and Henry are the first to mate on Anchor Island. Technical advisor Daryl Eason explains the use of artificial insemination (AI), and we find out why it is a useful genetics tool and what the AI team are up to in the field.Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to [email protected] this episode:00:00 – Introduction02:10 – Mating updates08.48 – Discussion about using artificial insemination (AI)15:28 – Andrew reports on the first AI efforts for this breeding season.20:51 – Closing creditsLearn more:Follow the Kākāpō Files podcast to keep up to date.Listen to the Voice of the Kākāpō series for a recap of the 2019 breeding season. Also 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 Maungatautari.For more New Zealand science and nature find and follow the Our Changing World podcast, and subscribe to the show’s monthly newsletter.Guests:Andrew Digby, Science Advisor, Kākāpō Recovery ProgrammeDaryl Eason, Technical Advisor, 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

It’s nearly the New Year and we’re counting down to the start of a big kākāpō breeding season. Island ranger Maddy Whittaker tells Alison Ballance that Pearl and Boss are the first kākāpō to mate. Deidre Vercoe, operations manager for the Kākāpō Team, explains that kākāpō mums on Whenua Hou will get wrap-round support, while management on Anchor Island and Te Kakahu/Chalky Island will be more hands-off. Scientist Andrew Digby talks about the role of technology in making this possible, and digs into the kākāpō’s boring gut microbiome. Technical advisor Daryl Eason introduces founder female Margaret-Maree, matriarch of a lineage with five living generations.Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to [email protected] this episode:00:00 – Introduction00:53 – Kākāpō ranger Maddy Whittaker with news that Pearl and Boss on Whenua Hou are the first kākāpō to mate.06:02 – Operations Manager of the Kākāpō Recovery Programme Deidre Vercoe explains that kākāpō mums on Whenua Hou will get wrap-round support, while management on Anchor Island and Te Kakahu / Chalky Island will be more hands-off.10:08 – Science Advisor Andrew Digby talks about the role of technology and the kākāpō’s dull microbiome.13:24 – Technical Advisor Daryl Eason introduces Margaret-Maree, matriarch of a dynasty with five living generations.16:18 – Closing credits…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Kākāpō Files returns for a second season, to follow everyone’s favourite parrot through what is predicted to be the biggest breeding season on record. In episode 1, host Alison Ballance and Our Changing World’s Claire Concannon chat about what exactly is a kākāpō, discuss the conservation history of this endangered bird through the life story of two kākāpō, and discover just how big this breeding season might be.Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to [email protected] this episode:00:00 - What is a kākāpō and how rare are they? 06:32 - Kākāpō names, from Zephyr to Acheron, and a brief conservation history14:29 - Rimu masting and the 2026 breeding season22:25 - Kākāpō trivia24:12 - Closing creditsLearn more:Follow the Kākāpō Files podcast to keep up to date.Want to start the new series prepared with all the backstory? Listen to the Voice of the Kākāpō series for a recap of the 2019 breeding season. Then 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 Maungatautari.For more New Zealand science and nature find and follow the Our Changing World podcast, and subscribe to the show’s monthly newsletter.Guests:Claire Concannon, Our Changing WorldReferences:“Kākāpō: Rescued from the Brink of Extinction” by Alison Ballance (published 2018)Kākāpō 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

In Antarctica in a Warming World researchers talk about the present impacts of climate change on the icy continent, and what they mean for our future. Watch now on the RNZ website - rnz.co.nz/videoVisit the RNZ website to watch the series.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Researchers are using hot water to drill through the Ross ice shelf, to discover what has happened to Antarctic ice during previous periods of warm climates.This series was first released on 9 July 2020.To see images and read more about this episode, visit the RNZ website here: Voices from Antarctica: What the ice is sayingGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details