K¯ak¯apo¯ need new habitats

The need for a new home for New Zealand’s critically endangered ka¯ka¯po¯ is growing ever more important as the species nears a new breeding season.

Ka¯ ka¯ po¯ currently reside on four predator-free islands – Codfish Island/Whenua Hou, Te Hauturuo-Toi/Little Barrier Island, Chalky Island/Te Kakahu and Anchor Island.

But their current habitats have hit capacity and the Department of Conservation is searching for a new island.

Finding the right spot has been a big focus point for the team over the past few years, senior ranger Dr Jodie Crane said, as they knew they would reach a stage where there was no more room for ka¯ka¯po¯ chicks.

With no predator-free islands big enough, the only option is to find a big enough island and eradicate the pests.

‘‘It’s a huge piece of work [to make islands predator-free], there are different approaches to eradicating each species, so you end up with a multi-layered response,’’ Crane said.

The goal is to find a site which would have the capacity to handle 20 more years of breeding, she said.

A big breeding season is expected in 2022 according to weather patterns and rimu tree fruit counts, Crane said, so a new island needs to be found soon.

The last breeding season, in 2019, added 71 chicks to the ka¯ ka¯ po¯ population.

Te Kakahu was the most recent addition to the list of habitats, with the Department of Conservation moving 26 birds there in late 2020.

The birds have taken to their new home well and are showing good signs at the moment, Crane said.

The next step after islands is to look at a fenced-off sanctuary, she said, before introducing the birds to the mainland, but that is a long way off.