Kākā
This article contains too many pictures for its overall length. |
New Zealand kākā | |
---|---|
A pair of North Island kākā in Zealandia, Wellington, New Zealand | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Psittaciformes |
Family: | Strigopidae |
Genus: | Nestor |
Species: | N. meridionalis
|
Binomial name | |
Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin, JF, 1788)
| |
Range in green |
The New Zealand kākā (Nestor meridionalis) is a large species of
Taxonomy
The New Zealand kākā was
There are two subspecies, the North Island kākā, Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis, and the South Island kākā, N. m. meridionalis, although more recent research has ruled out allopatric subspeciation.[7] The Māori language name kākā means "parrot", possibly related to kā, 'to screech'.[8]
The genus Nestor contains four species: the New Zealand kākā (Nestor meridionalis), the
Description
The New Zealand kākā is a medium-sized parrot, measuring 45 cm (18 in) in length and weighing from 390 to 560 g (14 to 20 oz), with an average of 452 g (0.996 lb).
The calls include a harsh ka-aa and a whistling u-wiia.[15]
Distribution and habitat
The New Zealand kākā lives in lowland and mid-altitude native forest. Its strongholds are currently the offshore reserves of
South Island Kākā
New Zealand kākā are still considered common and easy to find in certain large forested areas of the South Island. Kākā can be found in Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project, along the Milford Track and in the Eglinton Valley in Fiordland National Park[18]
New Zealand kākā can also be found around
In 2015
Behaviour
New Zealand kākā are mainly arboreal and occupy mid-to-high canopy. They are often seen flying across valleys or calling from the top of emergent trees. They are very gregarious and move in large flocks that often include kea, where they are present. They are highly active at dawn and dusk and can sometimes be heard calling loudly.
Breeding
The New Zealand kākā nests in cavities in hollow trees. The entrance hole is often three to six metres above the ground,[19] but can be as low as ground level on predator-free offshore islands.[20] The nest floor is lined with small wood chips[20] and powder.[19] They lay eggs any time between September (late winter) and March (summer).[19] Occasionally, in a good fruiting year, a pair can double clutch, often utilising the same nest hole for the second clutch[citation needed] and extending breeding into winter.[20] They typically lay four eggs,[19][20] though it can be up to eight,[21] with two chicks fledging.[19] Only the female incubates the eggs, for about 24 days,[19] and cares for the nestlings, but she is regularly fed by the male throughout breeding.[20] Both parents feed the chicks after they have fledged.[20]
Feeding
New Zealand kākā typically eat fruits, berries, seeds, flowers, buds, nectar, sap, plants and invertebrates. They use their strong beak to shred the cones of the kauri tree to obtain the seeds.[22] It has a brush tongue with which it feeds on nectar, and it uses its strong beak to dig out the grubs of the huhu beetle and to remove bark to feed on sap.[23]
Conservation status
New Zealand kākā are considered vulnerable, having greatly declined across their traditional range as a result of habitat loss, predation by introduced predators such as cats, rats, possums and stoats, and competition from wasps and bees for the honeydew excreted by scale insects. A closely related species, Nestor productus, the Norfolk kākā, became extinct in 1851 for similar reasons. New Zealand kākā are absolutely protected under New Zealand's Wildlife Act 1953.[24] The species is also listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meaning international export/import (including parts and derivatives) is regulated.[2] Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS), the North Island kaka is considered to be "At Risk", but with an increasing population, while the South Island kaka is considered "Threatened" and "Nationally Vulnerable".[25][26]
Predation
As cavity nesters with a long incubation period that requires the mother to stay on the nest for at least 90 days, New Zealand kākā are particularly vulnerable to predation. Stoats were the main cause of death of nesting adult females, nestlings and fledglings, but possums were also important predators of adult females, eggs and nestlings.[27] There is strong evidence that predation of chicks and females has led to a serious age and sex imbalance, even amongst ostensibly healthy populations.[28]
In parts of the country, the
Competition
Research has shown that
Human interaction
Re-introduction of North Island kākā at Zealandia in Wellington, combined with conservation efforts, has led to a large increase in the population of the birds in the city. [30] Many kākā visit residential gardens and reserves, and this in turn has led to more interactions with people.[31][32] People have been feeding the birds unsuitable food such as nuts, various grains and cheese.[31] Feeding kākā has resulted in metabolic bone disease in kākā chicks.[31] In 2016 80% of the kākā chicks being monitored by the Wellington City Council died from this disease.[33] There have also been instances of kākā nesting in the roofs of houses.[34]
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2022). "Nestor meridionalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T22684840A216083435. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ Gmelin, Johann Friedrich (1788). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 1 (13th ed.). Lipsiae [Leipzig]: Georg. Emanuel. Beer. p. 333.
- ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ Latham, John (1781). A General Synopsis of Birds. Vol. 1, Part 1. London: Printed for Leigh and Sotheby. p. 264.
- Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2023). "Parrots, cockatoos". IOC World Bird List Version 13.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- PMID 26447214.
- ^ "Entry for kā on yourdictionary.com".
- ^ PMID 18653733.
- ^ a b c Grant-Mackie, E.J.; J.A. Grant-Mackie; W.M. Boon; G.K. Chambers (2003). "Evolution of New Zealand Parrots". NZ Science Teacher. 103.
- ISBN 0-300-07453-0)
- ^ PMID 16099384.
- S2CID 1831016.
- ISBN 978-0-8493-4258-5.
- ISBN 0-00-212022-4)
- ^ "800th kaka Banded at ZEALANDIA". Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ McArthur, Nikki; Harvey, Annette; Flux, Ian (October 2015). "State and trends in the diversity, abundance and distribution of birds in Wellington City" (PDF). Wellington: Greater Wellington Regional Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "Kākā". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ ISBN 0474000486.
- ^ a b c d e f Moorhouse, R. J. (2017). "Kaka". In Miskelly, C. M. (ed.). New Zealand Birds Online. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ Powlesland, R. G.; et al. (2009). "Breeding biology of the New Zealand kaka (Nestor merdionalis) (Psittacidae, Nestorinae)". Notornis. 56 (1): 11–33. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Agathis australis, Kauri". Bushmans Friend. Archived from the original on 30 July 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
- ^ Charles, K. E. (2012). "Tree damage in Wellington as a result of foraging for sap and bark-dwelling invertebrates by the North Island Kaka (Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis)" (PDF). Notornis. 59: 180–184. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
- ^ "Wildlife Act 1953". New Zealand Legislation. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis. NZTCS". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ "Nestor meridionalis meridionalis. NZTCS". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ Taylor, G.; et al. (2009). "Effect of controlling introduced predators on Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) in the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project" (PDF). Department of Conservation. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
- JSTOR 24054543.
- ^ "The use of 1080 for pest control – Outcomes for bird populations". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ "Kākā baby boom: Native bird numbers increasing in the capital". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Hunter, S.A.; Alley, M.R.; Lenting, B.M. (2017). "Metabolic Bone Disease in North Island Kaka, Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis, in Wellington". Kokako. 24 (1): 23–25 – via Researchgate.
- ^ Cote, Sarah; Durand, Olivia Durand; LaRoche, Erin; Warden, Rachel (27 February 2013). "Evaluating the Interactions between Wellington Residents and the Threatened Kaka Parrot" (PDF). web.wpi.edu. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ Roy, Eleanor Ainge (20 January 2017). "Killing kakas with kindness: New Zealand bird lovers threaten future of parrot". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ^ "Kākā intruders on the increase". Scoop.co.nz. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
Further reading
- Kaka 'back from the brink' after Fiordland 1080 operation takes out predators Department of Conservation website 28 April 2011
- 1080 drop boosts Waitutu kaka Southland Timeswebsite 27 April 2011
- Pureora Forest kaka demonstrate benefits of using 1080 poison Waikato Regional Councilwebsite
- kaka and 1080 poison 1080: The Facts website (a public education initiative by Forest and Bird and Federated Farmers)
- Effects of a 1080 operation on kaka and kereru survival and nesting success, Whirinaki Forest Park, Powlesland et al. (PDF, 400kb) New Zealand Journal of Ecology (2003) 27(2): 125–137
- Effect of controlling introduced predators on kaka in Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project Published on the Department of Conservation website, April 2011
- Project Kaka – a joint Department of Conservation and Animal Health Board initiative to restore kaka to the Tararua ranges
- Possum-killing poison helps protect New Zealand parrot Scientific American website
External links
- New Zealand Birds Online website
- World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia – Species Profiles
- BirdLife Species Factsheet.
- Kākā (New Zealand Department of Conservation)
- KakaWatchNZ website Archived 30 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine – A site dedicated to kākā distribution in the upper North Island of New Zealand
- Kaka on NZ Birds website www.NZbirds.com