Kākāpō Recovery Programme Update

Update from Deidre Vercoe - Operations Manager

While there was no kākāpō breeding this year – there was no shortage of activity.  Dominating the year’s field work was our efforts to learn more about ‘cloacitis’.  All kākāpō on Whenua Hou were caught and checked for this potentially devastating disease four times over the past year.  This was a huge undertaking – over 100 days of kākāpō catching for a team of six. 

The 32 chicks from the 2016 breeding season were given some extra attention as they roamed further away from their mothers.

Add some length of the country transfers into the mix and there has been plenty to keep our small team occupied.

During the last 3 months, transmitter changes have been the focus for our field team.  These devices are a fundamental part of our work in managing the population.  Kākāpō transmitters are changed once a year, and with a growing population, it’s a growing job!  Each kākāpō needs to be found, captured and checked over thoroughly before receiving their new transmitter – which is worn on their back with a backpack style harness. 

Just finding the birds can be a mission.  Steep muddy tracks, even steeper off-track navigation, large packs that just don’t want to fit through the thick sometimes hedge-like bush.  To find a bird roosting high up a tree can mean you need to do it all again another day.

Once a bird is in the hand, it’s often our only opportunity to see that bird for the year – so it’s vital to carry out thorough health checks, and our team takes this very seriously.

The team were deeply saddened by the loss of Blake, who died of heat stress after being handled to have his transmitter changed.  In well over 20 years and 6500 recorded kākāpō captures, this was the first such death and has come as a shock to the team.  We thank you for the flood of support that has come through as we ensure we learn what we can from this rare event. 

A huge thank you to all of you out there who are committed to making a difference!

Merry Christmas from the kākāpō team!

Hauturu o Toi. Photo by J. Osborne.

Kākāpō Gertrude; a 2016 chick. Photo by T. Thompson.

Kākāpō workers on Hauturu o Toi. Photo by J. Osborne.

Bronnie releases Tītapu on Whenua Hou. Photo by Juanita Tressider.

Kākāpō with a transmitter fitted to enable management. Photo by A. Digby. 

Breeding

On the horizon for 2018 is potential breeding for Hauturu (fingers crossed), but no breeding in the Southern kākāpō islands – all eyes will be on 2019.

Cloacitis

Working with Auckland Zoo and other collaborators, we will push ahead on our cloacitis research. There are now 21 birds which have had cloacitis

Genomics

Another major collaboration kākāpō125+ will start to pay dividends as the entire kākāpō genomic dataset becomes available for researchers in 2018.

Future sites

Investigating potential future sites for kākāpō and upgrading some of our technology will also be a focus.   There are some exciting developments in the pipeline for maximising efficiency in future breeding seasons….more on this next year!

Science Advisor Andrew Digby gives a kākāpō a health check after a GPS transmitter change

Recent Fiordland trip to discuss potential future Kākāpō sites

What has really made our year, once again, is the wonderful support we get from you all.  There have been some great stories of dedication from here in NZ and afar – along with some outstanding support from our Official Supporters.

It’s always heartening to see individuals and companies supporting our amazing and threatened wildlife.  Some of our team recently visited ‘Pauanesia’ in Auckland, who do their bit to support kākāpō and kiwi with their fantastic upcycled and hand-made birds.  A percentage of sales go back to the real birds.

T-Shirt fundraiser

Thanks to FLOAT and all those supporters that bought an awesome, limited edition t-shirt through FLOAT. This latest campaign raised $1613 for Kākāpō  Recovery.  It also raised awareness for the correct pronunciation of ‘kākāpō’. This money will provide nutritious supplementary food pellets for 6 kākāpō for a whole year!

How do Kākāpō make babies?

Our young group of 'Kākāpō adventurers' are still curious in the latest episode of Kakapo Kingdom

They’ve been sharing their knowledge of kākāpō through a series of delightful videos, made possible by Kākāpō Recovery’s National Partner Meridian Energy.

In this episode the children ask Jeremy the inevitable question about how kākāpō make babies...

Stay tuned for the next instalment in 2018!

Katie and Ann from Pauanesia with hand crafted kākāpō soft toys.

Senior Vet Manager James Chatterton help the kākāpō team

School kids from Panyadee showing their kākāpō projects.

Watch it here!...Kākāpō Kingdom Episode 3

Whakataukī o te Kākāpō

We’d like to acknowledge a wonderful example of partnership in action, and finish with a Ngāi Tahu whakataukī (proverb) that we feel helps provide insight to the history, value and mana of kākāpō.

Ngāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation have been working together to erect three newly carved pou on Whenua hou, to symbolise the importance of the island to Ngāi Tahu.  These pou, which took 18 months to carve and were unveiled at a dawn ceremony, immortalise the stories of the past, preserve the present and look to the future.  Find out more about the journey from go to pou.

Whakataukī are an important part of Māori culture that provide an insight into the Māori world view.

These poetic verses can combine historical events, holistic perspectives, thoughts, values as well as advice of past generations, while providing underlying messages which are influential in Māori society.

Kākāpō

Mai a Rangi

Mai a Papatūānuku

Mai a Tāne

Ka puawai Rimu

Ka hua a Kākāpō

Ki te Whai ao

Ki te Ao mārama

Ka here tāngata

Ka here whenua

Ka tū te Pō

Ka tū te Ao

Tīhei mauri ora

Left to right: Ngāi Tahu Carver James York, Ngāi Tahu Fund Chair Suzanne Ellison, Mahri Batey, Leanda Davis, Jane Davis, Tane Davis. Pictured with Te Pou Nehera.

Parrot of the night

You came from Rangi

You came from Mother Earth

You came from Tāne

For the flowering of Rimu

A sustenance for Kākāpō

From this world

To the world beyond

We are bound together in conserving nature

We are bound together in conserving land

Let night come

Let day come

Such is life