Kakapo Chick Set to Visit Bluff

By MCCARTHY, Phil

A KAKAPO would be on display at Awarua Marae on Waitangi Day, allowing people a rare first-hand look at the endangered species, kakapo recovery team leader Paul Jansen said yesterday.

The juvenile male named Kumi, one of four chicks hatched last season, would be on display throughout the night of Waitangi Day on February 6 at the Bluff marae before being taken back to Codfish Island the next morning, Mr Jansen said.

No kakapo had been seen in the south of the South Island since 1984, although signs of the endangered flightless parrot have been found in Fiordland.

“The chances for people to see kakapo have been pretty limited.” Only 87 kakapo remain in the world. The four kakapo chicks bred last season were displayed at an open day in Nelson, where they were being hand-reared for a period last year. The open day attracted about 2500 people.

Mr Jansen said Kumi would be in a sterile enclosure to ensure that quarantine rules were followed.

“He’s pretty comfortable with people. It’ll be an entertainment for the bird rather than cause any stress.” The recovery programme was in a position where a male could be shown to the public without endangering the population, he said.

On Codfish Island, 13 or 14 male kakapo have been heard making mating calls — known as “booming” — which bodes well for breeding this season.

Before last season, kakapo last bred in the summer of 2001-02 when 24 chicks were hatched.

The team had not picked up any signs of mating yet but were hopeful it would happen in the next month, Mr Jansen said.

Rimu fruit levels, an important food source for kakapo, were similar to last year.

“We’re anticipating we might get some but it might be right on the switch for breeding.” Meanwhile, several members of the recovery team and some long-time kakapo enthusiasts will arrive in Te Anau next week to prepare for a month-long Fiordland kakapo search.

Three search areas had been pinpointed after an analysis was done on the 30 or so recordings of kakapo signs or noises in Fiordland since 1984.

The areas to be covered were Jeannie Burn in south-west Fiordland, areas of Dusky and Doubtful sounds and a Milford catchment from Poison Bay to Tutoko, Mr Jansen said.

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