The 2026 kākāpō breeding season is all systems go: nearly half of the females of breeding age have mated and so far 15 females are nesting. Technical Advisor Daryl Eason talks about record-breaking female Ongaonga who, at 4 years-old, is the youngest female kākāpō ever to breed. There are plenty of other first-time breeders as well. Six females were successfully inseminated with sperm from under-represented males. Ranger Maddy Whitaker updates us with the latest numbers, including a single fertile egg so far, and tech expert Jake Osborne introduces the kākāpō nest cam, beaming live from Rakiura’s nest on Whenua Hou.Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to [email protected] this episode:00:00 – Introduction01:25 - Youngest female to mate04:53 - Daryl Eason on Artificial insemination progress09:17 - Maddy Whittaker with mating and nesting updates16:00 - Jake Osborne on the kākāpō nest cam20:32 - Closing credits…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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