Forests and Islands

Tiny skin mites are causing mange and feather loss amongst red-crowned parakeets on Tiritiri Matangi Island, and a screening programme is keeping an eye on the problem Audio, Gallery

The genome of the North Island brown kiwi has just been published by an international team of researchers Video, Audio

The kaka from Zealandia Sanctuary are an urban success story, but they are developing lead poisoning, probably from chewing roofing nails and old lead paint. Audio

Hihi, or stitchbirds, are New Zealand's smallest 'honeyeater', and need extra sugar to help them survive on Kapiti Island Audio

Two new studies report a decline in sperm quality in older males, and poor breeding success as a result of inbreeding in little spotted kiwi populations Audio

Wild robins are the perfect subjects for a study looking at how smart birds are, and whether being smart helps them raise more chicks Audio

Rowi are New Zealand's rarest kiwi, and 'egg rescues' that see chicks hatched and raised in captivity have resulted in a big increase in the bird's numbers Audio

Catching long-tailed cuckoos to attach satellite transmitters and track their movements is a frustrating exercise. Audio

Red-crowned parakeets, or kakariki, are making themselves at home in Wellington's Zealandia sanctuary. Audio

Nine kakapo have been moved to Hauturu-Little Barrier Island, and ranger Leigh Joyce is using new technology to manage them Audio

Three small forest birds, which are host to shining cuckoo chicks, have been placed in a new endemic bird family Audio

After a 2-year disappearance Duncan the kokako was tracked down in Glendowie then returned to west Auckland Audio

As tieke have been translocated between islands interesting things have been happening to their calls Audio

Kaka are large native forest parrots that are having an impact on trees in parks and gardens in central Wellington city Audio

Investigating the effects of genetic bottlenecks on the breeding success of kiwi at Zealandia and Long Island Audio

Monica Awasthy did her PhD on kereru in Wellington, to find out where they feed and breed. Audio

Conservationists catch kokako to reintroduce the birds into the Waitakere Ranges Audio

University of Auckland PhD student Sarah Withers introduces the rifleman, NZ's smallest native land bird. Audio

Andrew Digby is recording the calls of little spotted kiwi in the Zealandia Sanctuary Audio

The release of forty young tui into the Awatotara Valley is an historic occasion shared by many Chatham Islanders Audio

The Taiko Trust's 'Tui Team' are on Rangatira Island, attempting to catch 40 tui to move to the main Chatham Island Audio

The Department of Conservation's Jane Tansell takes Alison Ballance to find a northern Fiordland tokoeka Audio

The final episode of the kakapo series traces the daily routines of managing the flightless parrots. Audio

Molecular genetics is revealing paternity and family relationships in the kakapo population. Audio

Zoologists Graham Parker and Ian Jamieson are interested in whether Douglas fir plantations make good robin homes Audio

Science plays an integral role in the Kakapo Recovery Programme, and evolutionary theory has proved a reality on the ground Audio

Rowi are New Zealand's rarest kiwi species, and some have been transferred to Blumine Island to encourage them to breed. Audio

A kakapo is rediscovered after being missing for 21 years, and the Sperm Team create a frozen sperm bank Audio

Ian Jamieson's genetic research on robins on Ulva Island has revealed some surprising findings about the risk of inbreeding Audio

Spanish expert Juan Blanco is helping the National Kakapo Team's attempt to add rare Fiordland genes to the kakapo population Audio

Kakapo scientists explain of role rimu fruit in synchronising kakapo breeding and providing food for chicks. Audio

Kakapo programme manager Deidre Vercoe and surrogate 'mum' Daryl Eason prepare for a promising breeding season for the parrots. Audio

A team of biologists explain the rich repertoire of regional kokako dialects. Audio

Tertia Thurley and Morag Fordham search for kokako nests on the island sanctuary. Audio

Massey University scientist Barbara Egli tries to work out family connections between the island's robins. Audio

Leila Walker and Rose Thorogood take Alison Ballance to check out hihi nests on Tiritiri Matangi Island. Audio

Snaring saddlebacks at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary to measure their genetic diversity. Audio

The Hihi - or Stitchbird - is a small nectar-drinking native with some unusual characteristics. Audio