Five translocations

Today the fifth batch of kākāriki karaka were released from the temporary-release aviaries, bringing the total number of released birds to 104 (20 birds per translocation, with one of 24). That brings to an end (for this season) the transfer of birds bred in captivity to the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. For the most part, kākāriki karaka born this season in captivity at Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust, Orana Wildlife Park, and Auckland Zoo have been translocated to the Brook. Now we'll monitor them, hope they remain inside the fence, and fill the place up with more of themselves.

It is worth noting the absolute success of the translocation methodology. All 104 birds, once boxed, transferred to the airport, flown to Nelson, helicoptered to Third House, driven to Kākāriki Hatch, carried down the spur to the aviaries, then released from the aviaries two days later, flew out the aviary doors to freedom.

The rise of Phoenix

The first nest discovered in the sanctuary (nest was confirmed 21st December 2021) was not far from the temporary-release aviaries. It received regular nest watches. Male was GP-S (green pink silver) and female S-RP (silver red pink). A few weeks after nest confirmation (during what should have been the incubation period) it appeared the nest had become inactive. No activity recorded on 12th January 2022. Another watch the following day confirmed the nest had failed (for unknown reasons).

Shortly after this (18th January) GP-S was seen with a new mate (S-BW) at a new nest site (the third nest found in the sanctuary), so it was presumed that something had likely happened to his first mate S-RP (taken by a falcon, or perhaps she became unwell) thereby ending the nest and her partnership with GP-S.

But, I was at the aviary watching the feeders today (27th April), and guess who turned up? You got it, S-RP!

She was looking a bit bedraggled, and wherever she'd been she seemed to have had a hard time. It was good to see her back though, and to know that whatever went wrong with her nest it was not terminal for her. We officially named her Phoenix.

There's a footnote to this story. GP-S's nest with S-BW fledged in early April. We don't know what subsequently happened to S-BW (perhaps she'll turn up again one day), but GP-S was subsequently seen regularly with his old flame S-RP (Phoenix) from about June. It was clear they were back together again. Clearly whatever went wrong there were no grudges held, he was probably happy to see her again like we (the humans) were.

More fledglings

Over the next few weeks more of our nests fledged. Adults were seen with groups of 2-4 fledglings in 'flight training' mode. They'd fly from tree to tree, call the fledglings over if they were lagging behind, and show them how to find their own food. During this time they're given supplementary food by parents, but it doesn't take them too long to become food-independent, perhaps a few weeks or less.

Commonly the fledglings or juveniles (when they're no longer being fed by adults they're referred to as 'juveniles') would fossick around on the ground under the auto-feeders snacking on bits of sunflower seed. It made for some nice photographic opportunities.

Fledglings/juveniles snacking on sunflower seed scraps

Fledgling/juvenile (front) with adults

Fledgling (note the developing orange frontal band)

Fledgling snacking on rimu fruit less than two weeks after fledging

It was a happy time to be a kākāriki karaka monitor. These birds were once again living, feeding and breeding in original beech forest, free of cages, and most important of all, free from being killed by stoats, weasels, ferrets, rats, possums and cats. Within four months of the first translocation we had quite a few birds who had never known a cage, and the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary was the only home they'd ever known or would ever know.