Yellow-crowned kakariki released on Maungatautari Eco Island

A breeding pair of Yellow-crowned karakiri have been released to start a bredding population.

September 2009. A pair of yellow-crowned kakariki has been released into Maungatautari's southern enclosure aviary signalling the start of a kakariki breed-and-release programme. The captive bred birds were collected from the wildlife recovery centre at Lochmara in the Queen Charlotte Sounds and transferred to Maungatautari via a commercial flight.

100 year absence
Yellow-crowned kakariki were last sighted on Maungatautari approximately 100 years ago. Despite only being one year old the pair could breed this season and may produce from two to nine eggs in each clutch. Once reared the resulting chicks will be released into the southern enclosure where it is hoped they will stay in the area to be close to their parents.

Parent birds to found new population
The parent birds will remain in the aviary for two to three years while they produce Maungatautari's initial founder yellow-crowned kakariki population. They will then be released to join their off-spring in the wild.

"This is stage one in establishing yellow-crowned kakariki on Maungatautari," said Trust ecologist Chris Smuts-Kennedy. Once we have a number of Maungatautari reared chicks keyed into the aviary area we will conduct a ‘wild to wild' transfer of up to 60 birds. That would involve transferring yellow-crowns, probably from the Marlborough Sounds, and releasing them close to the enclosure where they would hopefully join with the resident birds."

Recreating the original ecosystem
"The small group of free-flying captive-reared birds would then hopefully encourage the larger wild-caught group to stay in the area - that technique has worked for our kaka. It's another important step in the jigsaw as we recreate, as closely as possible, the original wildlife ecosystem that existed on the mountain complete with native bird song and, at the same time, bring those species to the attention of the public."

As with other native birds yellow-crowned kakariki are susceptible to introduced pests such as ship rats, stoats and possums. Although not critically endangered remnant surviving populations are only found in large podocarp forests across the middle of the North Island and on off-shore islands.

Third translocation in 2009
This is the third wildlife translocation to Maungatautari this year after hihi (stitchbirds) and popokatea (whiteheads) were released in March. Kiwi, takahe, kaka and kokopu were released in previous years - all are proving a delight to visitors.

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