Key Takeaways
- The kākāpō breeding season has officially begun, with remote monitoring technology detecting mating activity from December 29.
- This season could be the biggest in decades, with 83 breeding-age females and a total population of 236 birds.
- The Department of Conservation (DOC) is introducing lower-intervention strategies to reduce hands-on management and promote self-sustaining populations.
- The goal is to create healthy, thriving populations of kākāpō that can return to their former range around New Zealand.
- A new approach will prioritize genetically valuable eggs and chicks, reduce nest interference, and minimize supplementary feeding.
Introduction to the Kākāpō Breeding Season
The Department of Conservation (DOC) has announced that the first kākāpō breeding season in four years is underway, and it could be the biggest in decades. The season officially began after remote monitoring technology detected mating activity from December 29. According to DOC Operations Manager for Kākāpō Recovery Deidre Vercoe, this milestone is particularly significant for the species this year. The breeding season is a crucial time for the kākāpō, a critically threatened bird that breeds once every two to four years, when the rimu trees mast. The kākāpō are among the most intensively managed species in the world, and the DOC has worked tirelessly with Ngāi Tahu to rebuild the population through its longstanding Kākāpō Recovery programme.
The Kākāpō Recovery Programme
The Kākāpō Recovery programme has been in place for 30 years, and it has been successful in increasing the population from 51 birds (31 males, 20 females) to 236, including 83 breeding-age females. The population peaked at 252 in 2022. However, Vercoe notes that success can no longer be measured in mere numbers. The goal is to create healthy, self-sustaining populations of kākāpō that are thriving, not just surviving. This means that with each successful breeding season, the DOC aims to reduce the level of intensive, hands-on management and return to a more natural state. The ultimate goal is to return the kākāpō to their former range around New Zealand, so that hearing a kākāpō boom might be a normal part of nature.
New Approaches to Kākāpō Management
This breeding season, the DOC is introducing a range of lower-intervention strategies across the three protected offshore breeding islands. These include prioritizing checks for genetically valuable eggs and chicks, leaving more eggs to hatch in nests rather than incubators, reducing nest interference for mothers raising multiple chicks, and minimizing supplementary feeding. According to Tāne Davis, the Kākāpō Recovery Group’s Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representative, growth brings both advantages and challenges. The predicted scale of this season reminds us of the need for more safe homes, like a predator-free Rakiura, for this taonga species. Additionally, a Ngāi Tahu aspiration is for a percentage of the chicks hatched this year to remain nameless, acknowledging the beginning of returning the manu to their own natural ways.
Expectations for the Breeding Season
The first chicks are expected to start hatching from mid-February, and the DOC is preparing for what might be the biggest breeding season since the programme began. Vercoe notes that the team is excited to see the outcome of this season and is working hard to ensure the success of the kākāpō. The DOC is also working closely with Ngāi Tahu to ensure that the kākāpō are managed in a way that respects their cultural and ecological significance. With the introduction of new approaches to kākāpō management, the DOC is confident that this breeding season will be a significant step towards achieving the goal of creating healthy, self-sustaining populations of kākāpō.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
In conclusion, the kākāpō breeding season is a critical time for the species, and the DOC is working hard to ensure its success. With the introduction of new approaches to kākāpō management, the team is confident that this breeding season will be a significant step towards achieving the goal of creating healthy, self-sustaining populations of kākāpō. The DOC is committed to continuing its work with Ngāi Tahu to protect and conserve the kākāpō, and to promote the recovery of this iconic species. As the breeding season progresses, the DOC will continue to monitor the kākāpō population and adjust its management strategies as needed to ensure the best possible outcome for the species. With the help of remote monitoring technology and a dedicated team of conservationists, the future of the kākāpō is looking bright.