‘Generous’ public could kill chicks
Two Wellington kaka chicks may have to be put down if wellmeaning residents don’t get the message to stop feeding them fatal foods.
Wellington City Council urban ecology team leader Myfanwy Emeny implored the public to stop feeding the baby birds’ parents – who regurgitate their food to feed their young – because there was still time to save the chicks from being euthanised.
The kaka, from Crofton Downs, are part of a network of 12 nest-boxes in native forest reserves around Wellington that are monitored by the council and Conservation Department.
Emeny said while the chicks’ symptoms were not obvious, blood tests had found they had metabolic bone disease, caused by people feeding them food such as chocolate, cheese, cake and biscuits.
‘‘It’s like trying to raise a child on a diet of sugar and lollies, they can end up with quite severe deformities.’’
Emeny said the public should not feed the birds at all. They should leave them to their natural diet of grubs, berries, seeds and nectar.
The chicks are due to leave the nest in three weeks, when their fate will be decided.
‘‘We’ll find out closer to the fledge. They’ll either be well and healthy or have so many issues they won’t be able to leave the nest.’’
Kaka had been extinct in Wellington for more than 100 years. They were restored in 2002 when six captive-raised birds were released into Zealandia wildlife sanctuary.
Provided with artificial food and nest boxes, the capital’s kaka population has grown to more than 500 birds today.
There are between 1000 and 5000 of the nationally vulnerable species. Kaka are so rare in lowland forest that it is considered vital to have self-sustaining populations within cities.