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Critically Endangered Kakapo Parrots Begin First Breeding Season in 4 Years

New Zealand's critically endangered kakapo parrot has entered its first breeding season in four years, with remote monitoring detecting mating activity beginning in late December. The Department of Conservation is preparing for what could be the program's largest breeding season in its 30-year history. The flightless, nocturnal birds only breed every two to four years, dependent on the fruiting of native rimu trees. The recovery program, jointly managed with the Ngai Tahu tribe, has rebuilt the population from just 51 birds to 236 ahead of this season.

Key Points: Kakapo Parrots Enter First Breeding Season in Four Years

  • First breeding season in four years
  • Mating activity detected Dec 29
  • Could be largest hatching on record
  • Population currently at 236 birds
  • Managed by DOC and Ngai Tahu since 1995
2 min read

New Zealand's critically endangered kakapo enters 1st breeding season in 4 years

New Zealand's critically endangered kakapo parrots begin their first breeding season since 2022, with hopes for a record number of chicks.

"This year it feels especially long-awaited after such a big gap since the last season in 2022. - Deidre Vercoe"

Wellington, Jan 6

New Zealand's critically endangered kakapo is entering its first breeding season in four years, raising hopes for what could be the largest hatching on record.

Remote monitoring detected mating activity beginning on December 29, signalling the official start of the rare parrot's breeding season, the Department of Conservation (DOC) said in a statement on Tuesday.

"This year it feels especially long-awaited after such a big gap since the last season in 2022," said DOC Kakapo Recovery Operations Manager Deidre Vercoe, adding they are preparing for what might be the biggest breeding season since the program began 30 years ago.

The flightless, nocturnal parrots only breed once every two to four years, which only occurs when native rimu trees produce fruit, the statement said, adding that with most kakapo mothers typically raising one chick per season, 2026 could see the most chicks since records began, reports Xinhua news agency.

The total kakapo population stands at 236 ahead of the breeding season, including 83 breeding-age females, statistics showed.

The DOC and Ngai Tahu, New Zealand's South Island's largest Maori tribe, have jointly managed kakapo recovery since 1995, rebuilding the population from just 51 birds, the statement said, adding this season marks the 13th breeding event under the program.

A range of lower-intervention strategies will be applied on New Zealand's three remote southern breeding islands, prioritising checks for genetically valuable eggs and chicks, leaving more eggs to hatch in nests rather than incubators, and reducing supplementary feeding, it said.

The first chicks are expected to hatch from mid-February, according to the DOC.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul R
From 51 to 236 birds is no small feat. Hats off to the DOC and the Maori tribe for this sustained effort. We have so much to learn from such long-term, community-involved conservation models. Hope our wildlife departments take note.
A
Aman W
Interesting read. The bird only breeds when a specific tree fruits? Nature's interdependence is amazing. Makes you think about how climate change affecting flowering cycles could impact such species even more. A global concern.
S
Sarah B
While this is positive, I hope the "lower-intervention" strategy is carefully monitored. Sometimes too much hands-off approach can backfire, especially with such a small population. They must have solid data to back this change in method.
V
Vikram M
Flightless, nocturnal parrot? Sounds like a fascinating creature. Good to see science and indigenous knowledge working together successfully. Waiting for the mid-February update on the first chicks!
K
Kriti O
Heartwarming story to start the year with. 83 breeding-age females... let's hope most of them are successful. Sending positive vibes all the way from India! 🇮🇳

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