Every five years, Kiwi Coast Trust conducts a kākā and korimako / bellbird survey to see if these native birds are naturally returning to Northland.
Kākā and korimako are currently rare on the Northland mainland, but exist in good numbers on the nearby offshore islands. It is hoped that over time they will naturally reestablish on the mainland in response to the significant amount of pest control being carried out by groups and projects linked in to Kiwi Coast.
The survey is part of the Kiwi Coast’s long term ‘Indicator Species Monitoring Program’. Kaka and bellbird/korimako have been selected as ‘indicator species’ as they are highly conspicuous and easily identifiable.
Kiwi Coast CEO, Ngaire Sullivan reports:
“There are now 272 entities linked into Kiwi Coast, collectively carrying out pest control over a mosaic of over 285,000 hectares. On average, 2,300 pests are trapped across the Kiwi Coast network every week! This has got to be making a difference – this survey will help to document it”.
Kākā and bellbird currently visit some Northland areas sporadically – especially in winter when island food sources are low. However, by conducting the survey in summer, it is expected that any birds detected will be permanent residents rather than temporary visitors.
The survey will kick off in January 2026, and will be the third five-yearly Kiwi Coast Kākā and Bellbird Survey, following on from the initial baseline survey carried out in 2016.
The 2021 survey detected bellbirds at six locations out of 35 sites surveyed – Bream Head, Reotahi, Mt Manaia, Kauri Mountain, Mangawhai Cliffs and Otamure Bay. Kākā were only detected at Bream Head Scenic Reserve.
Download a copy of Kiwi Coast’s 2021 Kākā & Korimako Survey Report.
The survey team will be led by Kiwi Coast’s Southern Coordinator, Katie Gibbs. Where permission for access is required Katie will be in touch with the key contacts/ Landcare groups to check in with them prior to the survey being conducted to confirm access, contact details and log any health & safety updates.
If you have kākā or korimako on your block or in your project area this summer and would like to be involved in the survey, just let Katie know!
