Captive kākāriki to be released in forest
Six young yellow-crowned kākāriki reared in captivity are the first of 39 birds to be released into the forest at a national wildlife sanctuary.
The release at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre north of Masterton is planned for today.
The kākāriki have been reared at Pūkaha or other sanctuaries including Ngā Manu, Natureland and Tui Nature reserve over the past year.
Pūkaha biodiversity manager Christine Reed said the release was the ‘‘exciting culmination of a great deal of time, effort and care that has gone into a breeding for release programme for the species’’.
‘‘Yellow crowns are found throughout the North and South Island and on Stewart Island (Rakiura) but are rare.
‘‘While they have been seen in the Tararua region and at Pūkaha in the past, this release and two more in future years will boost the local population significantly,’’ Reed said.
‘‘While we will continue to supplementary feed the released juveniles for a while, there is abundant natural food in the surrounding forest that is perfect for their needs, especially after a recent and successful rat and possum control programme.’’
The Wairarapa-based project follows successful releases of kākāriki at other sites such as Puangiangi Island in the Marlborough Sounds and into Nelson Lakes.
Pūkaha general manager Emily Court said breeding for release from sanctuaries continued to be a significant contributor to species conservation.
‘‘Visitors can hopefully catch a glimpse of the birds at feeder stations set up in the reserve, where staff will monitor their activity.’’
It was expected the birds would disperse through the 942-hectare forest to find suitable breeding sites and natural food sources.