This year’s kākāpō breeding season looks set to become the best since the Department of Conservation’s recovery programme began 25 years ago. A record 36 chicks bring the total population to 123 birds.
A few kākāpō chicks had to be taken off their island sanctuaries to be hand-reared at a Department of Conservation facility in Invercargill. During weekends throughout May, the centre is open to the public. Photo: Veronika Meduna / RNZ
Kākāpō are spread across three islands – Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, Puke Nui/Anchor Island in Fiordland, and Hauturu/Little Barrier Island, in the Hauraki Gulf – were staff and volunteers are working hard to look after the chicks that are still on nests, getting close to fledging.
These two 'fluffies' are part of a group of younger chicks that are being hand-reared. Photo: Veronika Meduna / RNZ
The Department of Conservation's hand-rearing facility in Invercargill is home to six older chicks that had to come off their island sanctuaries because they were either not gaining enough weight or had injuries that needed veterinary care. Photo: Veronika Meduna / RNZ
However, some chicks had to be taken off their island sanctuaries because they were either not gaining enough weight or because of injuries and respiratory conditions that require veterinary care. At the moment, 12 chicks are being looked after at DOC’s hand-rearing facility in Invercargill, which is open to the public during weekends throughout May.
Veterinary nurse Alisha Sherriff says each chick is fed a parrot hand-rearing formula that is made up according to its weight and age, and administered at just the right temperature of 43 degrees Celsius, which matches the body temperature of an adult female bird. "She regurgitates from her crop into theirs, and then it's obviously mixed with her saliva and her bacteria which helps with the digestion and immunity of the chick. We add to the food acidophilus just to give them extra gut flora."
Veterinary nurse Alisha Sherriff is feeding a kākāpō chick a syringe full of hand-rearing formula. Photo: Veronika Meduna / RNZ
This year Our Changing World has also featured stories on the record kakapo breeding season and genome sequencing every living kakapo.
