Thursday, 28 November 2024

Kākariki karaka are nesting

We've been going around previously-used nest holes checking for activity. Some of them have received a lot of attention over the last few months. Our birds were prospecting, but mostly had not moved onto nesting. This is not uncommon behaviour. At some stage they receive the biological trigger to start laying (likely surplus food) and an 'interesting' hole in a tree trunk them becomes a nest.

We found a few more today, here are three previously-used nest holes that are again in use for the 2024/2025 season.

The female leaps out of her nest for a feed after being called off her nest (below).

Kākariki karaka - orange-fronted parakeet

Male called the female out (below), she poked her head out but either wasn't hungry or was busy (about to lay an egg perhaps?) as she went straight back in, and the male left.

Kākariki karaka - orange-fronted parakeet

Male (top, with leg bands) called off the female, here she comes out for a feed.

Kākariki karaka - orange-fronted parakeet

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