A male kakapo, one of a handful of New Zealand’s remaining native parrots, has been found on an island off the south of the South Island after 21 years on the missing list.
Known to rangers as Rangi, the flightless nocturnal bird was one of four male kakapo released onto Whenua Hou / Codfish Island, a 1400ha conservation sanctuary near Stewart Island, in 1987.
Rangi didn’t have a transmitter and had not been seen since. At least, that was until Waitangi Day – New Zealand’s national holiday (Feb 6) – when a ranger working on the island sanctuary heard a male calling in an area where no kakapo had been detected before.
Kakapo booming
Ranger Chris Birmingham said he was surprised to hear the bird “booming” its unique resonant mating call near South Bay.
He followed the sound and eventually spotted Rangi. “He bolted so I followed him through the supplejack and ferns. Finally, when it was safe, I managed to grab him.”
Significant find
It was only when the ranger saw a numbered metal band on Rangi’s leg that he realised the bird’s significance.
Rangi’s vitals were checked, showing he was in top form, and sperm was collected from him before he was carefully carried back to home territory and released.
The missing bird’s unexpected discovery boosts the critically endangered endemic parrot population to 91 and potentially adds important genetic diversity.
Read the rest here: Kakapo – A native NZ parrot emerges from 21 years in hiding
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