Cyanoramphus malherbi

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Malherbe's parakeet
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For other birds named orange-fronted parakeet, see Orange-fronted parakeet.

Malherbe's parakeet
At Isaac Peacock Springs wildlife refuge, New Zealand

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Cyanoramphus
Species:
C. malherbi
Binomial name
Cyanoramphus malherbi

Malherbe's parakeet is a small parrot endemic to New Zealand, where it is known as the orange-fronted parakeet (Māori: kākāriki karaka) or orange-fronted kākāriki. In the rest of the world it is called Malherbe's parakeet, as when it was recognised as a species, the name "orange-fronted parakeet" was already used for Eupsittula canicularis, a Central American species.[4] Restricted to a few valleys in the South Island and four offshore islands, its population declined to around 200 in the 1990s, and it is considered critically endangered by the IUCN.

Taxonomy

The genus Cyanoramphus is endemic to New Zealand and surrounding islands[5] and it has been proposed that the ancestor of Cyanoramphus dispersed from New Caledonia to New Zealand via Norfolk Island 500,000 years ago.[6]

Controversy has surrounded the classification of this bird; is it its own species or a colour morph of the similar yellow-crowned parakeet (C. auriceps)?[5][6] It was described in 1857 from a museum specimen of unknown origin; its species name honours the French ornithologist Alfred Malherbe.[7] During the late 1800s ornithologists considered it to be a distinct species, but during the latter half of the 20th century it was often considered a colour morph;[8] as recently as 1990, the Ornithological Society of New Zealand listed it as a form of C. auriceps.[5] After analysis using molecular genetic methods in 2000, the current consensus among researchers, which is accepted by the New Zealand Department of Conservation, is that Cyanoramphus malherbi is a distinct species.[5][6][9]

Description

Adult with its orange frontal band

Malherbe's parakeet is a medium size parrot, approximately 20 centimetres long. Its body is primarily a bright blue-green, with azure blue primary covert and leading edge feathers on its wings.[10]

It has a distinctive (and diagnostic) orange frontal band on its yellow crown, but this is absent in juvenile birds, which have fully green heads.[4][10][11] The orange frontal band begins to develop when the bird is 2–5 weeks old.[11] Its rump has orange patches on the sides. Colouration in males tends to be brighter, and juveniles are distinctly duller.[10]

The only reliable features that separate mature orange-fronted parakeets from the similar yellow-crowned parakeet (C. auriceps) are the colour of the frontal band and rump.[8][11]

Distribution and habitat

The species is found in only three regions on New Zealand's

Mayor Island / Tuhua.[4][10][12]

In the South Island, the parakeet is predominantly found only in

Fuscospora (beech) forest[4][10][13] with some reports from alpine and subalpine tussock and open matagouri shrubland.[10][14]

On Maud Island, one study found that the parakeet prefers areas with greater canopy cover and lower understory and ground cover.[15] The species is not restricted to this type of forest, however, and as its population density increases it may make more use of other habitats.

Behaviour

The parakeet is most often observed foraging, preening, and resting.[16] They prefer the upper stratum of forests, but also frequent lower strata more often than C. auriceps.[13]

Diet and feeding

The Malherbe's parakeet typically feeds in the canopy of New Zealand beech trees, but will also forage in low vegetation and on the ground.[10] They are typically observed feeding in flocks of mixed species, eating various seeds, beech flowers, buds and invertebrates.[13]

During spring, invertebrates become a significant part of their diet, including

Blechnum penna-marina.[13] During mast years, beech seeds become the dominant feature of their diet.[10][13]

The Maud Island population appears to have different dietary preferences to mainland populations, eating more plant species and fewer invertebrates.[17]

Breeding

Malherbe's parakeets are monogamous and able to nest year round, but peak breeding is between December and April. They primarily nest in natural hollows or cavities of mature beech trees,

Fuscospora fusca).[10][13][15] On Maud Island they were found to nest in Pinus radiata forests.[18]

Clutch size is around 7 eggs with an incubation period of 21–26 days.[10][18] The female exclusively incubates and the male feeds her. Nestlings fledge between 43 and 71 days, but remain dependent for 2–4 weeks.[4][18]

Their breeding is also linked to the production of beech seed during mast years.[4][10] During seeding events, and other periods where food is plentiful, they are able to produce secondary clutches, with some pairs reportedly breeding up to four times in succession.[10]

Status

The Malherbe's parakeet was classified as Nationally Endangered by the New Zealand Department of Conservation in 2012[19] and Critically Endangered by the IUCN.[1]

In the 19th century the species was widespread, occurring throughout New Zealand's South Island. The birds were semi-nomadic, dispersing in search of food when numbers were high.[14] This behaviour has stopped due to low numbers and habitat modification, which also has implications for re-establishment of the species.[10]

Prior to 2000, the parrot's population numbered in the hundreds in the South Island, but fell from 500–700 individuals to an estimated 100–200 by 2004, due to significant increases in rat and stoat populations, in particular a rat plague during 2001.[20]

The Hawdon River valley houses the largest population, with 70–200 individuals reported in 2013, but numbers are apparently decreasing.[4] The Poulter valley population also declined in 2013, with approximately 40–80 individuals now occurring in this region. The South Branch Hurunui River valley population is even smaller, as few as 20–40 birds.[4]

The world population of this species was estimated to be 290–690 individuals in 2013, with translocated island populations making up 160–420 of these birds. Determining exact numbers of the parakeet is difficult, however, due to their rarity, quiet nature, and similarities to C. auriceps.[4][10]

Threats

The original decline in population was most likely due to habitat destruction and fragmentation by human activity, hunting,[21] and predation from exotic species.[14][22] Hunting has ceased and their habitat is protected, but habitat fragmentation may also continue to threaten the Malherbe's parakeet.[21]

Malherbe's parakeets evolved in isolation from land mammals, so are especially vulnerable to introduced predators. Their current decline is due to predation from stoats (

Mustela ermine), rats (Rattus spp.), and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) which target eggs and nestlings.[4][10][15][21][22] One population was reduced by 85% in 2001 due to predator irruption after a beech mast (a season of high production by southern beech).[23] Deer and possums also contribute to the decline of Malherbe's parakeets through forest destruction.[4][10]

Competition for food may also be a factor. Introduced birds, mice, wasps, and rats are considerably reducing invertebrate numbers, which the parakeet relies on during winter and spring.[13][21] The parakeet is however a food generalist and may compensate with other food sources, as observed on Maud Island. This dietary flexibility is promising for species recovery.[17]

Inbreeding depression and low genetic diversity may affect the viability of these small populations by reducing their capacity to adapt to threats and diseases.[21][24]

The specialised nesting habitat of the orange-fronted parakeet increases its vulnerability to extinction.[18][22] The reasons for this include: (1) a single nest opening means that incubating females may be unable to escape from invading predators and will also be killed, (2) because only females incubate, predation may cause a biased sex ratio, (3) their relatively long nesting period (when compared to other passerines) increases their vulnerability to predation, and (4) the chicks tend to be noisy and therefore more attractive to predators.[22] Furthermore, in beech silviculture the trees are not given enough time to develop adequate hollows before they are harvested, thereby reducing the number of suitable nesting sites in managed beech forests.[4][15] Introduced starlings may also be outcompeting the parrot for nesting sites.[10][25]

Conservation

Malherbe's parakeet is absolutely protected under New Zealand's Wildlife Act 1953.[26] 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.[27]

Predator management is the main strategy to reverse this species' decline.[20][21] All three mainland populations come under the "Operation Ark" initiative, which controls stoat, possum and rat populations through integrated pest management, with particular focus on reducing the effect of predator plagues.[20] These pest management strategies have worked with other New Zealand bird species to reduce predation by introduced mammals.[20][28]

Individual nest sites are also protected from predators using metal tree-trunk wraps; this has been a successful programme and only one nest out of 153 has been lost to predators since 2003.[4][10][20]

The other major conservation strategy is captive breeding programmes carried out at Peacock Springs by the Isaac Wildlife Trust, with individuals being released on predator-free islands.[4][10][20] Birds are placed in portable aviaries in the forest to acclimatise them before release.[23]

A total of 45 birds were released between 2005 and 2007 on Chalky Island, off the coast of Fiordland. The local population had increased to 150 individuals in 2009, and 100–200 by 2011, but had declined to 50–150 individuals in 2013.[4][20]

Sixty-eight individuals were released on Maud Island in the Marlborough Sounds between 2007 and 2009, but 2013 the island's population consisted of only 10–20 birds.[4][12][20]

Malherbe's parakeets have also been translocated to

Mayor Island / Tuhua in the Bay of Plenty and Blumine Island in the Marlborough Sounds; estimated population in 2013 were 50–150 and 50–100 birds respectively. These two populations, however, are not as well studied as those on Chalky Island and Maud Island.[4]

A population of Malherbe's parakeets has been established at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary near Nelson through seven translocations (to March 2023) totalling 125 birds from several of the other populations.[29]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22724562A130890144.en
    . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. ^ Souancé, Charles de.; Blanchard, Emile; Bonaparte, Charles Lucien; Saint-Hilaire, Alexandre Bourjot; Vaillant, François Le (1857). Iconographie des perroquets : non-figurés dans les publications de Levaillant et de M. Bourjot Saint-Hilaire. Paris: P. Bertrand. p. 48. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r BirdLife International (2016) Species factsheet: Cyanoramphus malherbi. Archived 13 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine Downloaded from www.birdlife.org on 2016-03-23.
  5. ^ a b c d Kearvell, J; Grant, A; Boon, W (2003). "The orange-fronted parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi) is a distinct species: a review of recent research on its taxonomy and systematic relationship within the genus Cyanoramphus". Notornis, 50: 27–35
  6. ^ a b c Boon, W; Kearvell, J; Daugherty, C; Chambers, G. (2001). "Molecular Systematics and Conservation of Kakariki (Cyaniramphus spp.)". Science for Conservation 176, Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand
  7. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds. Totnes: Christopher Helm. p. 219.
  8. ^ a b Nixon, A.J. (1981). "The External Morphology and Taxonomic Status of the Orange-fronted Parakeet". Notornis 28: 292–300
  9. ^ Boon, W; Kearvell, J; Daugherty, C; Chambers, G. (2000). "Molecular systematics of New Zealand Cyanoramphus parakeets: conservation of Orange-fronted and Forbes' Parakeets". Bird Conservation International 10: 211–239
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Kearvell, J.C. (2013). Miskelly, C.M. (ed.). "Orange-fronted parakeet". nzbirdsonline.org.nz. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  11. ^ a b c Kearvell, J; Connor, C; Farley, M. (2014). "Field identification of the orange-fronted parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi): pitfalls for the unwary". Notornis 61(4): 200–204
  12. ^ a b Gaze, P., Cash, B. (2008) A history of wildlife translocations in the Marlborough Sounds, Occasional Publication No. 72, Nelson: Department of Conservation
  13. ^
    JSTOR 24055316
    .
  14. ^ a b c Harrison, M. (1970). "The Orange-fronted Parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi)". Notornis 17 (2): 115–125
  15. ^ a b c d Ortiz-Catedral, L. (2012). "Habitat use by the critically endangered orange-fronted parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi) on Maud Island: its relevance for future translocations". Notornis 59: 148-152
  16. ^ Ortiz-Catedral, L. (2009). "Some observations on the behaviour of the critically endangered orange-fronted parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi) on Maud Island, New Zealand". Notornis 56: 165–166
  17. ^
    S2CID 84386036
    .
  18. ^
    doi:10.1071/zo09098
    .
  19. ^ Robertson, H; Dowding, J; Elliott, G; Hitchmough, R; Miskelly, C; O'Donnell, C; Powlesland, R; Sagar, P; Scofield, R; Taylor, G. (2013). Conservation status of New Zealand birds, 2012. NZ Threat Classification Series 4. Department of Conservation
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h Elliot, G.P.; Suggate, R. 2007. Operation Ark: three year progress report. Christchurch, Department of Conservation
  21. ^ a b c d e f Innes, J; Kelly, D; Overton, J; Gilles, C. (2010). "Predation and other factors currently limiting New Zealand forest birds" New Zealand Journal of Ecology 34: 86–114
  22. ^
    ISSN 0301-4223
    .
  23. ^ a b Toki, Nicola; Mulligan, Jesse (24 February 2017). "Critter of the Week: Karaka Kakariki". RNZ. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  24. ^ Jamieson, I. (2015) "Significance of population genetics for managing small natural and reintroduced populations in New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Ecology 39 (1): 1–18
  25. ^ Kearvell, J (2013). "Interspecific competition for nest sites between common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and orange-fronted parakeets (Cyanoramphus malherbi) in the Poulter Valley". Notornis 60: 188–190
  26. ^ "Wildlife Act 1953". New Zealand Legislation. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  27. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  28. ^ O'Donnell, C; Hoare, J. (2012). "Quantifying the benefits of long-term integrated pest control for forest bird populations in a New Zealand temperate rainforest". New Zealand Journal of Ecology 36 (2)
  29. ^ ENews from Brook Sanctuary, March 2023: 2.

External links

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