Search for extinct Piopio.

Three years ago I did an intense and two week hike through Southern Fiordland.

While there, I am convinced I heard the considered extinct NZ Thrush, or Piopio. This knowledge has eaten me up for the last three years, and I feel I need to go back. It is very remote and rough terrain, requiring a helicopter to get there.

I will go in for a month to the same and surrounding area. Walking from North of Kiwi Lake, eventually around the back of Lake Hakapoua and Lake Innes. It is in the region of the Grace and Fred Burn where the songs were sung. Just like a crystal flute, just as the birds were described. They were not Bellbirds, I am convinced of that.

Some good news to add, I may be helping a group from Taranaki with their equipment called "Hark", that will long term distinguish bird calls from the area I am visiting. It can identify individual birds and quantities of birds in the vicinity. I will mount them in the most promising areas, and the equipment is solar powered, so should give results for a long time to come.

I will be adding photos of my previous trip to the same Southern Fiordland area in the gallery section out of interest, and I forgot to mention that my timeframe for going in will be around December 20th, 2024. Thanks.