Kakariki, Care, Breeding, Diet, Health, Aviaries and Conservation

Comment: Isnt this "counting your chickens before they hatch" From DoC News September 2005 Breeding has started early this season, boosting hopes for the captive population of the endangered kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeet. Link to Forum Comments .

Three females are sitting on eggs at Isaacs Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, with one super-mum having laid 11 eggs! This is the highest number of eggs produced by any parakeet at Isaacs. Compared to last season’s total of 16 chicks successfully fledged in captivity, it’s a great start to the summer. Isaacs Wildlife Reserve also holds three single females, which will be matched with males from these current clutches and then transferred to the second captive population at Te Anau Wildlife Reserve. At Te Anau, two orange-fronted parakeet pairs and a red-crown pair have eggs due to hatch early September. The wild orange-fronted parakeet populations in the Hawdon and South Branch Hurunui valleys will be checked during September, to see if breeding there has also started early. The orange-fronted parakeet team aim to hold 10 breeding pairs in captivity - six pairs in Te Anau and four pairs at Isaacs. Five new aviaries are being completed at Te Anau to increase holding capacity. Any extra birds will be transferred to the predator-free Chalky Island in Fiordland, to start a safe, new wild population. Chalky Island does not have any other parakeet species living there, so offers the best chance for the orange-fronts to establish a new population with no competition for resources from their cousins.
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