Beautiful Parrots - A Work Of Art Fighting For Survival

Predation, deforestation and food shortages have all had its toll on New Zealand’s kaka, says Rosemary Low, but with public awareness and targeted conservation, this glorious large parrot looks set to enjoy a brighter future

- Rosemary Low

The New Zealand kaka (Nestor meridionalis) is one of the most fascinating of all parrots due to its appealing appearance and behaviour and unusual vocalizations. Its alternative name of “brown parrot” suggests a dull-coloured bird, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The intricacy of its plumage is like a work of art. There are countless shades of brown, grey and tawny brown, every feather being margined with a slightly darker colour. The feathers of the sides and rump are brown, margined with red. In contrast, the forehead is white, the ear coverts are orange and the underwing coverts are red. It is truly a beautiful parrot! The North Island subspecies (N. m. septentrionalis) is duller in plumage.

Kaka on Kapiti

Kaka are rare in native forest throughout the three main islands (North, South and Stewart) of New Zealand, except for areas adjacent to offshore island strongholds, such as Little Barrier, Kapiti, Ulva and Codfish islands. They have recovered at some sites where control of mammalian predators is undertaken, such as Waitutu in Fiordland National Park.

In 1993 I was fortunate to see kaka on Kapiti Island. This is a Department of Conservation (DOC) reserve which lies 5km (3 miles) off North Island’s west coast. During the 1840s farming commenced and cattle, sheep, pigs, deer, dogs and cats were introduced. Rats were already well established and in 1892 the Australian brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) was introduced to establish a fur trade. The damage caused by these mammals was incalculable.