The Last Song

The last confirmed sightings of the mainland Piopio was 1902 and 1905. 

The last Stephens Island Piopio was gone by 1898.

“The Piopio was so numerous” on Stephen’s Island in 1894 that “... there was scarcely a bush in which one could not be seen”   Lukins 1894

“...very sociable, remarkably tame”   Henry1905

“...to show the effect of the cat as a factor in the destruction of birds - Piopio and Saddleback can no longer be found on Stephen’s Island” and that “the island is swarming with cats”   Travers. December 27th 1898

“It was with considerable interest I found so many of the more rare of the New Zealand birds on Stephens Island and I hope they may long continue to thrive on this inaccessible island where they will certainly be unmolested by stoats and weasels”   Lukins 1894