 |
Before
intensive
predator
control,
access
to
nests
by
predators
was
prevented
using
sheets
of
tin.
|
Before
intensive
predator
control,
access
to
nests
by
predators
was
prevented
using
sheets
of
metal.
The
successful
release
of
wild
and
captive
bred
kaka
into
the
Pukaha
Mount
Bruce
forest
in
1996
was
a
turning
point
in
our
country's
ecological
history.
It
was
the
first
for
us,
and
a
first
for
the
world.
It
showed
us
that
with
intensive
pest
control
our
native
species
could
(deleted
a
bit
here)
live
alongside
us
on
the
mainland.
No
longer
did
we
have
to
isolate
them
offshore
or
keep
them
behind
predator
proof
fences.
The
techniques
we
learnt
with
the
kaka
programme
are
now
being
used
for
other
species
like
the
kokako.
Reintroduction
of
kaka
to
Pukaha
Mount
Bruce
Reserve
began
in
1996
with
the
release
of
wild-caught
juveniles
from
Kapiti
Island
and
captive-bred,
hand-reared
juvenile
kaka.
A
second
release
of
juvenile
captive-bred,
parent-reared
kaka
occurred
in
1997.
The
aim
of
these
initial
releases
was
"to
determine
whether
or
not
release
of
juvenile
kaka
is
an
effective
tool
in
the
restoration
of
kaka
to
mainland
ecosystems".
Further
releases
have
occurred
in
1999,
2000
and
2001,
whenever
there
are
kaka
in
the
captive
population
available
for
release.
All
releases
have
used
the
same
method,
which
involves
holding
the
birds
in
a
release
aviary
at
the
release
site
at
Pukaha
Mount
Bruce
for
a
period
of
time
prior
to
release
(at
least
two
weeks
but
usually
over
a
month
for
captive-bred
birds).
During
this
time
the
kaka
are
socialised
with
each
other
before
release,
and
can
interact
with
the
wild
kaka
as
they
come
into
the
release
area
daily
for
supplementary
food.
The
kaka
are
also
introduced
to
a
range
of
natural
foods
available
at
that
time
of
year.
A
feed
station
identical
to
the
ones
at
the
release
site
is
set
up
in
the
aviary
so
the
kaka
can
become
familiar
with
feeding
from
it
before
release.
Post-release
supplementary
feeding
occurs
daily,
at
3pm,
at
the
release
site.
This
aids
the
birds'
transition
from
captivity
to
the
wild,
as
well
as
being
a
way
for
staff
to
monitor
the
kaka,
and
allows
the
general
public
to
view
the
kaka
"up-close".
All
released
kaka
are
fitted
with
a
transmitter
for
post-release
monitoring,
and
a
unique
combination
of
metal
and
plastic
colour
bands
for
identification
purposes.
Feathers
are
taken
for
DNA
sexing
if
we
are
unsure
of
a
bird's
sex,
and
the
kaka
are
disease
screened
at
least
twice
before
release.
(Kaka
are
not
released
until
all
disease
screen
results
are
clear).
The
releases
have
been
relatively
successful
with
high
survival
rates
and
high
site
fidelity.
In
each
year
following
the
first
two
releases
only
one
bird
in
each
group
was
unaccounted
for
(both
birds
classed
as
"disappearances").
Most
release
birds
visit
the
feedstations
although
usage
fluctuates
and
not
all
kaka
use
the
feedstations.
For
example
one
wild
bird
from
the
1996
release,
one
captive-bred
female
released
in
2000,
and
one
kaka
hatched
in
the
wild
in
1999
have
never
been
seen
using
the
feedstations.
Deaths
occurred
in
the
1998/99
season
when
unexpectedly
the
kaka
began
breeding,
and
two
females
were
killed
by
stoats
while
nesting.
Two
pairs
did
breed
successfully,
fledging
6
chicks.
These
birds
were
aged
3
and
2
years.
All
birds
that
attempted
to
breed
used
natural
nest
sites.
During
this
breeding
season
management
techniques
were
developed
for
protecting
natural
nest
sites.
This
involved
banding
the
nest
tree
with
sheets
of
aluminium
and
surrounding
the
tree
with
10-20
Fenn
traps.
While
some
of
our
attempts
at
nest
protection
have
resulted
in
monstrous-looking
steel
absurdities
they
are
so
over-the-top
for
a
reason:
after
all,
a
stoat
is
not
exactly
the
stupidest
creature
in
the
world
is
it?
I
will
always
prefer
to
look
at
a
steel
monstrosity
for
a
few
years
than
retrieve
another
kaka
killed
in
an
unprotected
(or
poorly
protected)
nest
by
a
stoat.
During
the
1998/99
season
we
also
erected
six
predator-proof
nestboxes
in
the
reserve.
Three
pairs
successfully
nested
in
these
in
the
2001
season,
fledging
a
total
of
nine
chicks.
Since
beginning
to
use
these
forms
of
nest
protection
we
have
not
lost
a
single
nesting
female
or
chick
from
a
nest,
but
a
number
of
fledglings
and
one
adult
male
have
been
killed
by
stoats
during
the
non-breeding
season.
This
indicates
we
may
need
to
carry
out
year-round
predator
control
to
support
kaka,
at
least
until
the
population
at
Pukaha
Mount
Bruce
is
at
a
more
self-sustaining
level.
Intensive
nest
protection
led
to
a
successful
breeding
season
in
1998/99
with
six
chicks
fledging
from
nests
in
the
wild.
The
kaka
bred
again
in
summer
2000/01
with
three
pairs
producing
nine
chicks.
During
the
2001/02
breeding
season
six
pairs
nested,
including
Tawa,
a
female
that
had
hatched
in
a
natural
nest
at
Pukaha
Mount
Bruce
in
1999.
A
total
of
13
chicks
hatched
in
natural
nest
sites
and
in
artificial
predator-proof
nest
boxes
in
the
forest.
A
total
of
six
chicks
were
produced
by
two
pairs
during
the
2002/03
breeding
season,
and
the
2003/04
breeding
season
has
been
the
most
successful
yet
with
a
minimum
of
19
fledglings
being
produced.
By
Raelene
Berry
