Some more on the Kokako

Chad has posted earlier this week on the South Island Kokako, likewise Loren Coleman over at Cryptomundo also posted on the birds "extinct classification".

While Rhys Buckingham has been a long time supporter and research on the South Island Kokako, he has not been alone. Another prominent research, as mentioned in both Chad and Loren's posts, has been Ron Nilsson. Here is an additional piece tied to the "extinct" declare, this comes a day or so after the original declaration. From New Zealand Herald of January 17, 2007

The South Island kokako is now listed as officially extinct, but one of its most dedicated fans is still a believer.

Ron Nilsson, of Christchurch, has spent more than 20 years searching for the South Island kokako, which he says he has heard up to 100 times and seen once.

Conservation officials yesterday formally declared the South Island kokako extinct, saying there had been no confirmed sightings for more than 40 years.

But Mr Nilsson said he saw a bird just five years ago in Westland.

"I watched the bird flit across an old forestry road."

Mr Nilsson, a self-taught bird expert who has worked for the Wildlife Service, said he knew it was a kokako because of its size and behaviour.

"They are bigger than a tui ... like a small native pigeon. It has a peculiar body movement, like a saddleback."

Mr Nilsson said some of his colleagues had also seen and heard the elusive bird.

He planned to get back into the Fiordland bush in the next month to continue his search.

He has also searched remote valleys in Nelson, Westland and Stewart Island for signs of the grey bird with orange wattles at each side of the beak.
"There are half a dozen places where it could be."

He said that unlike the Department of Conservation, he would not have the audacity to say something was extinct.

For more read on at the New Zealand Herald

Having performing some research and writing about this bird and its connection to cryptozoology in 1998, it is indeed sad to see that despite finds of kick-ups and occasional sightings, the bird may well be slipping away completely. But, as history has shown with other "extinct" birds, there are times when remnant populations will be found. We can hope this is the case with the South Island Kokako.