Birds

The summer science fun continues with an episode from RNZ podcast Voices. Meet Gaia Dell'Arriccia, a scientist originally from the south of France who studies the seabirds that live around Auckland's… Audio

Kākā numbers are skyrocketing in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington thanks to conservation efforts. The summer science series continues with a walk through Zealandia to find out why you shouldn't feed… Audio

By Ellen Rykers: The bittern’s eerie, booming call sounds like a lament, a tangi ringing across the marshes. Now, the birds themselves are in trouble Audio

Mohua are bright yellow forest birds – but despite their eye-catching plumage, they can be tricky to spot flitting high in the forest canopy. Claire Concannon visits the Makarora mohua population… Audio

Mohua yellowheads were once common in Aotearoa forests, but bush clearance and introduced predators mean they're now rare in the ngahere. Claire Concannon meets a team of scientists and… Audio

In the ever-shifting streams and channels of a braided river, creatures must adapt to change. Claire Concannon joins a researcher on the spectacular Cass River near Tekapo for a spot of electrofishing… Video, Audio

In braided rivers, shifting gravel and weaving water channels make for a complex and dynamic environment. But it's a habitat some species have adapted to – native fish like kōaro, and unique birds… Audio

Giant penguins weighing up to 150 kilograms once roamed the waters around New Zealand. Claire Concannon speaks to a palaeontologist and learns about penguin evolution, extinct species that dwarfed… Audio

How did penguins go from flying in the air, to 'flying' underwater? Claire Concannon speaks to a palaeontologist to learn about penguin evolution across 62 million years and the extinct giant penguin… Audio

The southern New Zealand dotterel is a true underdog of the bird world, with just 126 individuals at last population estimate. Claire Concannon tags along with a team of researchers attaching trackers… Audio

Southern New Zealand dotterels are one of Aotearoa's most endangered birds, but we don't know where most of them go to breed. Claire Concannon meets a research team tagging the wader birds to uncover… Audio

There are birders and then there's Peter Kaestner. He's a retired US diplomat who holds the world record for seeing the most bird species, 9,856 birds. A duck on the back of our 10 dollar note was his… Audio

The Great Ireland vs. New Zealand Bird-off returns for part 2 to decide once and for all which island nation boasts the best birds. Our avian aficionados return to argue their case in front of judge… Audio

It's time to ruffle some feathers: Our avian aficionados are back for part 2 of the Great Ireland vs. New Zealand Bird-off. Claire Concannon judges two bird nerds' top selections across multiple… Audio

Welcome to the great Ireland vs New Zealand bird-off. Two islands, a world apart – but which country has the better birds? Two bird nerds champion their nation's birds across four categories in an… Audio

Two islands, a world apart. Ireland vs. New Zealand – which nation has the better birds? Feathers will fly as two bird nerds argue for their treasured birdlife in the inaugural bird-off, judged by… Audio

A scientific breakthrough has given hope to conservationists fighting to save the critically endangered kakapo.  Dr Joseph Guhlin, a postdoctoral researcher with Genomics Aotearoa speaks to Jesse. Audio

For over 40 years, Rhys Buckingham has been in search of the bird that doesn't want to be found. The orange-wattled South Island kokako, also dubbed the 'grey ghost' is assumed to be extinct by the… Audio

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the rediscovery of the takahē. Claire Concannon sits down with former Our Changing World presenter and takahē superfan Alison Ballance to chat about her new… Audio

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the rediscovery of takahē. Claire Concannon sits down with takahē superfan and former Our Changing World producer Alison Ballance to discuss her new book… Audio