Kākāriki survey crashed by local kea

Images provided by Sanctuary volunteer Sean McGrath.

On the 1st and 2nd of September, the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary held the kākāriki karaka population count. Led by the DoC kākāriki karaka team, alongside Sanctuary staff and volunteers and staff from NCC.

On the second survey day, we were surprised to be greeted by a very curious kea! Not quite the parrot we were after, and not at all a parrot they were expecting.
The kea began to follow two of our volunteers along one and a half kilometres of track, causing general kea mayhem in the process. He nibbled their shoes, landed on their heads and threw the pest tracking tunnels off the tracks. According to the online kea database our cheeky friend`s name is “Track”.

In Aotearoa, three kākāriki are endemic to the mainland islands. The rarest of them all is the orange-fronted kākāriki, the smallest of the kākāriki. This species was once abundant on the South Island. It cohabited forests with the other two mainland species, the yellow-crowned and red-crowned kākāriki. While the other two species still maintain several substantial populations nationwide, kākāriki karaka are critically threatened with extinction. They share the title of most endangered native forest bird with kākāpō.

The population has grown rapidly since their release in 2021. On the first survey day, we collectively counted almost 300 birds. The survey methodology and resource availability limits the accuracy of the count within such a large area with such a high bird density. ~300 birds serves as a low baseline population estimate.
However, it would be reasonable to estimate the population to be above 400. The Sanctuary is the world’s largest population of the species. Buller noted in 1869 that the species was common in the hills behind Nelson. Six years ago that statement would have been untrue. DoC are now harvesting eggs from this population to boost their captive breeders.

It has been a delight to watch this species thrive and regain its place in the ngahere.

If you enjoyed these excellent images, please check out Sean McGrath’s blog seanmcgrath.nz

@seanmcgrath
#kea #kakarikikaraka #brookwaimarama

We are receiving some absolutely amazing images as part of our Photography Competition! 📸️🌿

These are just some of the recent Winter Competition entries that have come through — and we think you`ll agree, they are amazing! 🏆 Winners for the Winter Competition will be announced soon!

🌸 Our Spring category is now open! 🌸

As the seasons change, we can’t wait to see the Sanctuary come to life through your photographs. Keep those entries coming!

www.brooksanctuary.org.nz/photography-competition

📷Photo credits: Matti Raven, Katrin Raven and Juliette Fris.

#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #PhotographyCompetition #WinterPhotography #SpringPhotography #NaturePhotography #Conservation #NelsonTasman

Just like your dirty car bonnet, our fence `hood` needs a scrub once in a while. While the lichen that grows on the mesh helps the fence blend in while looking beautiful, the lichen on the hood can be problematic. The hood keeps the sanctuary pest-free, but any grip could offer some purchase for pests.

At when hood cleaning we get these brilliant views!(sarcasm). The misty weather actually became very helpful in loosening up the lichen crust for removal. And we were lucky to see the native cranberry moth (Poecilasthena pulchraria) and an early spring bloom of puawānanga (Clematis paniculata).

#brookwaimāramasanctuary