The feeder-camera data

During about two weeks in August (while housebound with my broken ankle) I processed about 130,000 trail-cam images. This involved flicking through the images as fast as possible identifying kākāriki karaka from their leg bands. This information was then used to update the DOC database. I went at my own pace (a rather rapid one) and concentrated on the key data: birds fully identifiable from their leg bands. The database is now up-to-date with information on feeder habits (how often they visit feeders, which feeders, which other birds an individual likes to hang around with etc). And also which birds are considered 'missing'. I ignored what I considered lower-value data (partially identified birds, i.e., where only one colour band was seen) and did not sort images into folders based on content (a folder for images with parakeets, another for images of other species etc). My aim was productivity maximisation: to extract the core data from the images as fast as humanly possible.

While the job was mundane at times, it was also nice to unexpectedly encounter a bird previously considered 'missing', and update the bird's status on the database to 'alive'. There were also some funny or cute photos at times. A few examples below. (Note that some of these photos post-date the post date; I continued processing the feeder-camera images once the backlog had cleared and have posted a few of these photos here for convenience.)

Courtship feeding.

When birds appear on a feeder like this you know they are a pair.

Ice-skating on a frozen water bath.

Looking cute.

A pair of fledglings (left, note the absence of frontal bands) and a pair of juveniles.

Other birds also use the water bath. This includes native ruru, kārearea, kererū, riroriro, kakaruai and warou.

Kārearea (NZ falcon)

A pair of ruru (morepork)

Kererū (NZ pigeon)

Broken ankle - feeder camera data

A bit of bad news for me today, but good news in another way. I broke my ankle heading down from Kākāriki Hatch to the aviary. It occurred only about 30 seconds after entering the hatch. I started slipping (a layer of dead leaves over super-slippery clay on a short but steep bank), and with hindsight, was trying to protect my camera on my hip. This meant I landed facing sideways instead of facing out. I heard and felt two clicks, and immediately felt a sore ankle. It didn't seem too bad though and thought that a bit of use would help out, and I'd be OK to continue on the day's tasks. We (myself and Peter Hayes) continued down to the aviary. I took my boot off for a look, and immediately knew I was in trouble. My ankle was swollen big time, about 15 minutes after the accident. Peter fortunately had a constrictive bandage which we used to wrap my ankle. Peter is also a vet, so had more knowledge of such things than I did. I had never had a broken limb, or even a sprain before now.

I knew I had to get up the hill and back to the vehicle while I could still walk so promptly but carefully headed back up. End result, Weber B fibula fracture and I was in plaster by the end of the day and facing six weeks on crutches.

So, where is the good news here? Since the first translocation, we (Brook kākāriki karaka volunteers) had been spending a fair bit of time at the aviary observing which birds were coming and going. We'd attempt to ID every bird, then add the observations to the DOC (Department of Conservation) OFP (orange-fronted parakeet) application (their database with mobile data query/entry capability). However, much more data was being collected through the five trailcams (four on feeders and one on the water bath). DOC staff usually process this data, but at this point were about six months behind. We (Brook volunteers) wanted the data, we wanted a better handle on which birds were present, which birds were likely pairs, and we'd also be able to spend less time observing birds at the feeders and perhaps more time finding nests in the knowledge the trailcam data was being speedily processed. The absence of up-to-date trailcam data had resulted in us making the decision to set up a roaming trailcam of our own on various feeders, I processed the images and noted the IDs of birds.

Long story short, I made an offer to DOC that I use my six weeks immobile to process the backlog of trailcam data; it would mean we'd all have the data and I'd avoid dying of boredom/frustration. It would also mean I'd be still very much entrenched in the lives of my little green friends, although via a PC screen. DOC agreed and arranged to send me the data.

Bath time

A water bath was installed (with a trail-camera) when the feeders were installed. This provides a source of water for drinking and bathing. And a source of entertainment for visiting humans.

Feeding nestlings

My favourite stage of a kākāriki karaka nest is the last week or two before the nestlings take their first flight and become fledglings. Nestlings are growing (or have grown) feathers, and have become active inside their nest. They will be climbing up the nest walls (which of course we never see) but commonly they will poke their heads out the nest entrance and beg for food when they hear their dad arrive. (Mum will likely have already moved onto their second nest.)

Nestling waiting for Dad to supply lunch

When Dad arrives at the nest he will usually announce his arrival from up to 10m or so away. It could be a loud call, or perhaps a soft call is all that is needed. Fledglings will pop their heads out and compete with one another with the cutest begging calls. Dad will feed them until he's empty then leave.

This video was taken from about 10m from the nest entrance, which is about 12m off the ground. I took in a tripod, set the camera up and waited. I started recording when I saw and heard Dad arrive, he is calling from about 7m away to the right. The nestlings start calling immediately. The video is just over two minutes, and covers the entire feeding visit.

I started packing up the camera gear, then realised the light was a bit flat, and wondered if it would be better later when the sun hit the east-facing nest entrance. So I waited an hour and a half for the next feeding visit and also filmed that one. Right at the perfect moment a plane flew overhead and spoiled the sound.... After the feeding visit Dad spends the next few minutes in the tree to the right attempting to call off his babies. He thinks they're ready to fly. A few times one of them comes mostly out of the nest, and seems ready to fly, but then chickens out. I was willing the bird to come out and take its first flight but it was not to be. Perhaps the nest fledged an hour later, I'll never know. Next time I visited (a couple of weeks later) the male was in the canopy nearby in flight-training mode with his fledglings. Another successful nest.

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.