Suzanne Williams

Thank you, once again, Beacon, for last Wednesday’s interesting issue.

It was such a pleasure, in the midst of the world’s escalating and almost unbelievable problems (not to mention Whakatāne’s), to read the article on the work of the dedicated and selfless volunteers of the Manawahe Kokako/Eco Trust.

The kokako is unique to New Zealand; a beautiful bird to see as it hops around the branches; and  –  to anyone who has had the memorable experience of hearing these wonderful birds in their natural habitat  – riveting, ethereal, magical and unforgettable.  

We can be so grateful to the founders of the first trust, to the funding from the Rotary Club and to the work of the volunteers’ pest-trapping.  

In the face of high odds, they were able to progress the bush to becoming almost pest-free; then faced a new (possibly predictable) problem, that of inbreeding and infertility, with eggs produced being infertile.

Since then, breeding pairs have been translocated from Kaharoa and Rotoehu, with offspring from these birds beginning to reproduce; but at present, the hope of further viable breeding is resting with one pair; the female, Eco, from Kaharoa Forest and the male, James Bond, from Manawahe.

I wonder, as the eco-sanctuary mainland island, Maungatautari, has kokako there, why swapping of pairs have not occurred between there and Manawahe?                                                                                                                  

In the meantime, let us give a hearty cheer for the hard-working people of the trust and hope that Eco and James Bond get on with what birds do best, breed and raise chicks.