Kākā Calling!
Kākā, Photo Credit Tomas Sobek @tomas_nz
We’ve had more kākā sightings around Tamahere this spring — and it’s not just us! Reports from across the Waikato suggest these cheeky, social forest parrots are being spotted more often and sticking around longer than in previous years.
Kākā used to be occasional winter visitors here, drawn out of forest blocks like Maungatautari for seasonal food before heading back to their breeding territories by summer. But that pattern seems to be shifting. Over the past couple of years, kākā have been seen throughout the year rather than just in winter. It seems more of them — especially younger, non-breeding birds — are hanging around or regularly showing up outside the usual season. While adult breeders tend to keep a low profile near nesting areas, these younger birds are louder, more curious, and far more likely to be seen (and heard!) around local gullies and gardens. The collective noun for them is a hoon — very fitting once you see four or more diving and squawking around the gullies!
Their comeback story is one of New Zealand’s great conservation wins. Once common across the country, kākā populations plummeted due to deforestation and introduced predators, especially stoats and cats, which prey on nesting females and chicks. Thanks to sustained predator control and protected forest blocks, they’re now recovering in key strongholds such as Maungatautari, the Hunua Ranges, and Zealandia in Wellington. From these sites, their powerful flight range — up to 100 km — allows them to explore well beyond sanctuary fences, which is how they’ve found their way to us.
Over the past year, the Maungatautari team has reported increased kākā activity beyond the pest-proof fence, and tagged birds have been tracked all around the Waikato. With more local trapping and habitat work in Tamahere, it’s no surprise we’re seeing more visits — and possibly even a few permanent residents setting up home nearby.
Not sure if what you saw was a kākā? They’re large parrots with rusty-red feathers under their wings and a loud “ka-aa” call. You can check sound clips and photos on NZ Bird Online if you’d like to be sure.
If you do see any local kākā, please report your sightings to the Waikato Kākā Project via iNaturalist — especially if you spot any banded birds (for example, white over red on the left leg or pink over shiny metal on the right). These reports help the project team track individual birds and understand how far they’re travelling. Thanks!
