New Zealand's Kakariki thriving on safe havens
December 2012. The critically endangered orange-fronted parakeets are thriving
at Maud Island in the Marlborough Sounds, a new study has found.
A base population of 11 has jumped to nearly 100
since the birds were moved to the predator-free sanctuary five years ago.
However, there are still less than 1000 birds worldwide.
11 birds moved to Maud Island in 2007
The study, by Dr Luis Ortiz-Catedral and Professor Dianne Brunton from Massey
University's Institute of Natural Sciences, investigated what happened after 11
captive-bred Malherbe's parakeets (Cyanoramphus malherbi) or kākāriki karaka
weremoved to Maud Island in 2007.
Critically Endangered
A native New Zealand bird, the orange-fronted parakeets are listed as
critically endangered on Red List of Threatened Species by the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In 2004 it was estimated there were
between 300 and 500 Malherbe's parakeets left in the world.
In December 2005, captive-bred birds were moved
to Chalky Island in Fiordland, and in 2007 transported to Maud Island began.
Further populations were moved to Tuhua Island in December 2009 and Blumine
Island in 2011 and this year.
With funding from the Department of
Conservation, Forest & Bird and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation
Fund, Dr Ortiz-Catedral surveyed the Maud Island birds. He used a simple
methodology based on sightings and estimated their survival during the study
period, known as "mark-resighting".
Secretive
Due to the secretive nature of New Zealand parakeets, this methodology had not
been used before. However, on Maud Island the tameness of parakeets allowed for
detailed, repeated observations of the birds in their new habitat. Dr
Ortiz-Catedral says after success with the parakeets, this method could be
applied to similar species in other island populations in New Zealand and
around the world.
High reproduction rates
Since March 2007, regular surveys were conducted on Maud Island to record
juveniles hatched on site and others released on the island. Within two years,
Dr Ortiz-Catedral estimates the population increased from 11 to a maximum of 97
birds, due to the high reproductive potential of the species, and the absence
of introduced mammalian predators.
"The evidence from this study suggests
translocating captive-bred birds to sanctuaries like Maud Island, which are
free of invasive predators, is an effective management method for increasing
the global population size of the species," he says. "It is hoped
this will eventually downgrade its IUCN threat category."
Dr Brunton says the study is an excellent
starting point for further monitoring programmes for other parakeets managed
through translocation, and proves such a managed conservation programme is
effective.
Orange-fronted parakeets remain one of the least
known forest birds in New Zealand due to their rarity, and the ambiguity of
their status as a separate species.
Dr Ortiz-Catedral hopes that this study will
promote awareness of the species.
