ANIMALS ON THE BRINK. PART 4 - THE PIOPIO

Matthew Lark continues a comprehensive look at some of our native birds, reptiles and insects, which are thought by most scientists to be extinct. Matthew looks at the Piopio / New Zealand Thrush (not an actual thrush species but Old World orioles) a bird which was temporarily rediscovered in the Urewera ranges as recently as 1971.

Bob Joyce provides an imitation of the song of the Piopio.
Matthew lark gives a history of the last records reported sightings of the North Island Piopio and South Island Piopio.
Bob Joyce recalls his observation of the species seen in the [Ruakituri] river catchment.
Arthur Taylor, an honorary ranger, talked about seeing one of the birds in Te Urewera.
Mark Smaile, an ecologist, recalls seeing two birds calling to each other and feeding on berries in 1970 when he was 15.