Kakī – Black Stilt
Kakī, or black stilt, is a native wading bird, found only in New Zealand. They have black plummage and a long thin black bill with very long red legs and spectacular bright red eyes. Once common throughout New Zealand, kakī is now only found in the braided rivers and wetlands of the Mackenzie Basin (the catchment area for the Waitaki River). In 1981 the Department of Conservation established a programme to save the Kakī from extinction, at which time there were only ~23 adults remaining. The intensive conservation programme raises and releases back into the wild up to 100 birds each year. The total population is now more healthy than it once was but the bird remains critically endangered due to introduced predators.
- Listen to the kakī/black stilt call
- Find out more about kakī/black stilt:
Population: 85 adult wild birds in 2010
Threat status: Critically endangered
Found exclusively in: Braided rivers and wetlands of the Mackenzie Basin, South Island
Threats: Predators, habitat loss, disturbance
Maximum longevity – 15 years. Age at first breeding (typical) 2-3 years.
