Endangered Kakapo chicks receive rock star welcome

Kakapo Chick

Three of New Zealand’s cutest chicks managed to draw crowds like ‘rockstars’ when they made their debut at the Kakapo Chicks Day Out in the historic South Island settlement of Arrowtown, in the Queenstown Lakes District.

The Kakapo Chicks Day Out

Two-and-a-half-month old kakapo chicks Lisa1, Rakuira2 and Heather1 were given the warm welcome by a host of admirers who were allowed to catch a glimpse of the endangered mountain parrot in a special one off viewing.

The Kakapo Chicks Day Out event was organised by premier South Island tourism operator Real Journeys and New Zealand’s Department of Conservation’s Kakapo Recovery team, who brought the striking baby green parrots to Arrowtown from Invercargill, at the bottom of the South Island.

Real Journeys Chief Executive Richard Lauder said the chicks were received like “rockstars” by the local community.

“There has been an incredible public turnout, despite the poor weather we’ve had people lining up down the street, says Lauder.

“But undoubtedly the best part has been the huge smiles and the fascinated school kids after they have been in the viewing room. It’s been a very special day for all involved, including our staff.”

The chicks receive a rock star welcome

Through the gold coin donation entry system over $1,700 was raised for the Kakapo Recovery Programme – with many people making more generous donations. The Kakapo Adoption Programme was also in full swing with over $2,000 raised.

One local school girl, Sian Davis, worked hard selling plums and possum key rings to save $200 to make two Kakapo adoptions – Lisa1 and Rangi.

Head of the Department of Conservation Kakapo Recovery team Deidre Vercoe Scott says the chicks travelled very well from Invercargill and have been quite busy in their enclosure.

“They have really taken everything in their stride and gone about their business of feeding, climbing and interacting which has been fantastic for everyone to see,” says Deidre.

“We managed to generate some great support for the programme but more importantly allow people a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the chicks.”

Kakapo Recovery

Kakapo Recovery is a partnership between Department of Conservation, New Zealand Aluminium Smelters and Forest and Bird. It was formed in 1990 to try and save the native bird that has inhabited New Zealand for thousands of years, but suffered with the arrival of humans and predators.

By the 1970s only 18 kakapo’s were known to exist, but in 1977 male and female kakapo were discovered on Stewart Island, an untouched nature-lovers paradise where native New Zealand wildlife thrives.

For nearly 40-years the Department of Conservation and many volunteers, both local and international, have worked hard to protect and grow the population of these precious birds.

Today there are kakapo breeding populations on three predator-free islands; Whenua Hou/Codfish Island which is found just off Stewart Island, Anchor Island in southwest Fiordland and Hauturu/Little Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf on the North Island.

The aim of Kakapo Recovery is to establish managed and self-sustaining populations of this beautiful native New Zealand bird.