The Effects Pests Have on Our Critical Birds: Black Stilt (Kakī)

Part 1: A Bird on the Brink

Nestled among Aotearoa’s stunning braided riverbeds and remote wetlands, the black stilt (kakī) stands as one of the rarest wading birds on the planet. With its glossy black plumage and long pink legs, the kakī is not only a visual icon — it’s a conservation emergency.

Once common across New Zealand’s South Island, kakī populations began a dramatic decline in the 20th century. By the 1980s, just 23 adults were left in the wild — a stark symbol of ecological imbalance. While many factors contribute to the kakī’s endangered status, one of the most urgent threats is invasive predators.

What’s Endangering Kakī?

Unlike birds in other parts of the world, New Zealand’s native avian life evolved without land-based mammalian predators. So when settlers introduced stoats, ferrets, rats, cats, and hedgehogs, the effects were catastrophic — especially for ground-nesting species like the kakī.

• Stoats are particularly aggressive predators, capable of raiding nests and killing adult birds.
  

• Feral cats and hedgehogs target kakī eggs and chicks.
  

• Rats disrupt food chains by consuming invertebrates and small vertebrates the kakī rely on for food.
  

• Habitat loss from agriculture, water diversion, and human disturbance further compresses the kakī’s already limited range.
  
  

Despite intensive trapping programs in key habitats like the Mackenzie Basin, pest pressure remains persistent.

Part 2: Fighting Extinction – Science in Action

Captive Breeding: A Lifeline, Not a Solution

In response to the kakī’s plummet toward extinction, New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC) established a captive-rearing programme in the 1980s. Eggs are collected from wild nests and incubated in a purpose-built facility in Twizel. The chicks are raised in safety and released once they reach the more resilient sub-adult stage.

Between 2013 and 2020 alone, over 800 kakī were released into the wild. Yet despite these efforts, the wild population remains hovering around 140 adults, revealing a significant issue: low post-release survival.

The problem isn’t just the number of birds being released — it’s the predator-filled world they’re released into.

How Pests Undermine Recovery

New research highlights the long-term toll predators take, even when birds are captive-reared:

• Sub-adults have higher survival, but juveniles released into pest-heavy zones don’t stand much of a chance.
  

• Birds that suffered encephalitis or bumblefoot in captivity have a reduced survival likelihood.
  

• Use of supplementary food after release improves outcomes, yet predators still limit long-term establishment.
  
  

In other words, even the best breeding programme can’t outpace the losses caused by stoats, cats, and other introduced predators.

Part 3: Connovation’s Role in Kakī Protection

At Connovation, we believe pest control isn’t just about removing predators — it’s about safeguarding species like the kakī, whose survival defines the success of conservation in Aotearoa.

Smarter Solutions for Sensitive Species

Our products like Double Tap (a low-residue, double-action rodent and possum toxin) are designed to offer precise, species-specific control. This means fewer non-target impacts and better alignment with the ecological needs of protected birds like the kakī.

Our Trakka monitoring tools and lures support effective, targeted control in sensitive habitats like braided river systems — helping field workers verify presence and adjust efforts before predators strike.

Research-Led, Ecology-Driven

We align our work with DOC and local community groups to ensure our pest control products support long-term conservation success. Whether it's working on field trials, developing more humane toxin formulations, or responding to emerging threats, we’re proud to be part of New Zealand’s ecological guardianship.

Final Word: The Kakī Deserve a Fighting Chance

The kakī are more than just a rare bird. They’re a living symbol of our country’s fragile biodiversity. Their survival is a test of our commitment to restoring balance in ecosystems where humans have unintentionally tipped the scales.

Through smart science, cultural partnership, and persistent pest control, we can tip those scales back — not just for the kakī, but for all of Aotearoa’s precious taonga.

🕊️ Let’s keep our skies filled with life. For the kakī. For our future.