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Orange-fronted Parakeet The least known member of the genus Cyanoramphus is a mysterious bird. The Orange-fronted Parakeet, also known as Malherbe’s Parakeet (C.malherbi), is very close in appearance to the Yellow-fronted Kakariki. For many years it was the subject of debate by systematists: was it just a colour morph or was it a true species?  It occurred in areas where there were Yellow-fronted Kakariki, but no mixed pairs were recorded – so the birds apparently recognised each other as separate species. In recent years, mitochondrial DNA work has been used to settle arguments over taxonomic identity. In this case it indicated that the Orange-fronted Parakeet is a distinct species. Given the status of Endangered (due to its small range and population) as soon as it was thus classified, it is known from only two valleys in the South Island.  During the 1990s its total population was estimated at between 200 and 500 birds. The parakeet now occurs naturally only in the Canterbury region of the South Island. In 1993 I saw them in the aviaries of a private breeder, under the auspices of the Department of Conservation (DOC). In poor light it would be difficult to distinguish them from Yellow-fronted Kakarikis, as the only difference easily discernible to the human eye is the orange forehead. However, birds see ultra-violet colours (indetectable to the human eye), so to another Kakariki they could look rather different.

The prolificacy of the Orange-fronted became a problem, and DOC took these birds back.  What happened to the captive-birds was unknown, but at that time DOC would not release captive-bred birds into the wild. Suddenly it appeared that this species was in serious trouble.

In September 2003, reports appeared in the Christchurch Press under the headings of “Native parrot at risk of extinction” (September 10) and (ironically) “DOC embarks on bird-saving mission” (September 20). It was reported that three-quarters of the Orange-fronted Parakeet’s population had been wiped out in the previous two summers by a devastating explosion in rat and stoat numbers whose population increase was apparently due to the beech trees producing very large amounts of seed, allowing the predatory mammals to breed even more prolifically.

Environment Minister, Chris Carter, stated that the Orange-fronted Parakeet had become the most endangered forest bird in the country. (Most of the others were already endangered or critically endangered.) He said:  “We did not recognise them as a distinct species until 1999 when there were 700. Now there could be as few as 150. It’s the worst crisis I have had to deal with as minister.”

For anyone who knows of the past captive history, the next statement, made in September 2003, is loaded with sad irony: “Early hopes of breeding the bird in captivity were dashed when a February hunt turned up just one nest of five eggs. These were taken to the Department of Conservation (DOC) aviary in Te Anau and four hatched. Two weeks ago the only female died, and with it DOC’s immediate insurance policy.” Later three of the chicks also died.

One could say that DOC had burned its insurance policy a decade previously when it squandered the valuable population of carefully reared captive birds. In December 2003 came news that heralded the start of a new captive-breeding programme. After searching three valleys in North Canterbury for weeks for nests of this species, DOC staff found a nest with seven eggs. The eggs were transferred to the Isaac Wildlife Trust in Christchurch for Operation Ark, a joint project of DOC and environmentalist Diana, Lady Isaac.

By October last year, this rapidly-maturing species had produced two generations and 100 young, most of which have been released.  In 2007, 40 were liberated on Maud Island. They are reported to be breeding and doing well. More were released on Chalky Island in Fiordland, another reserve from which DOC had eradicated all predators. After all, successful captive-breeding was the turning point for this Kakariki. The translocations were possible only because of generous donations from sponsors.

Antipodes Island Parakeet
The largest member of the genus, this parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor) occurs only on the uninhabited and protected sub-Antarctic Antipodes Islands, a bleak, windswept group about 800km (500 miles) south-east of New Zealand. Despite its very small range (approximately 21 sq km or 8 square miles), its conservation status is Vulnerable only because of the fear of mammalian predators reaching the islands. Increased fishing activity in the area in recent years makes this a possibility.

Sunshine is limited, it rains nearly every day and the average temperature is about 5 deg C (41 deg F).  The largest island is only 18 sq km (7 sq miles) in extent and the outlying islands are little more than large rocks. Its towering volcanic cliffs make access to the island difficult, so the parakeets are undisturbed. The sub-alpine vegetation is dominated by clumps of tussock grass. This provides the parakeets with food and nesting sites.

I first saw the Antipodes Parakeet in 1993 in the small wildlife park managed by the Department of Conservation in Te Anau, in New Zealand’s South Island. Seldom have I been so fascinated at my first sight of a parrot species! Later I was to see it at Mount Bruce Nature Reserve in North Island. Both encounters left a lasting impression on me. About 31cm (12in) long, its size and confiding personality give it tremendous appeal to the human observer.  I was totally entranced by this parakeet!

In 1967, DOC decided to take a few birds into captivity. They bred and could be seen in a few institutions and private collections on deposit from DOC. In 1993 there were 100 in captivity (all in New Zealand). Unfortunately, a disease problem in the captive population combined with DOC’s policy of not permitting breeding to occur, greatly reduced this number.

Kaka
Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) also breed only in years when the beech trees have a lot of seed. An article in Biological Conservation in 1998 (by P Wilson et al) described how in one area of mainland New Zealand, twenty breeding attempts in eleven years resulted in only four young surviving to independence. Nine young and four female Kakas were killed on the nest – almost certainly by stoats.

My friends from Canterbury, South Island, Ron Stewart and his late (and greatly missed) wife, Dawn, worked tirelessly to persuade DOC to protect Kakas and to try to eradicate the vermin that were killing them. They contacted Ministry of Conservation officials, took part in radio and TV interviews and wrote countless letters to the Press. They received worldwide support – yet little was done to stop the slaughter, as DOC claimed there was not enough money available.

However, in the Nelson area of the South Island, the Nelson Conservancy of DOC started a recovery project named Revive Rotoiti in 1997. The aim was to create a predator-free environment around the lake. This included killing introduced possums and controlling the huge numbers of wasps that consumed the honeydew that Kakas feed on. In the first year, (1998) four females nested and 12 chicks fledged, although one died soon after. A second young one was found dead, apparently killed by a stoat. Each Kaka nest had been surrounded with 24 stoat traps – and no females were killed on the nest.

This kind of intensive management was labour-intensive and expensive and was not maintained. However, something wonderful has happened in New Zealand during the past few years. The conservation-conscious public has taken over where DOC left off. Privately owned land – in some cases huge tracts of it – are being fenced off by people who want to see the return of New Zealand’s native birds. The cost of fencing and predator control to these individuals is enormous, yet they are determined to succeed.

One of the species that has benefited from these private initiatives is the Kaka. It is now breeding successfully on some mainland “island reserves”, as they are being called.  They are also doing well on some of the real island reserves that have been cleared of predators by DOC. For example, they and Red-fronted Kakarikis are thriving on Ulva Island in Paterson Inlet. The giant podocarp forest there was never felled. There are no possums, goats or stoats. The 260-hectare island was the subject of one of New Zealand’s largest rat eradication programmes in 1997.