Kakapo (Strigops Habroptilus) - Animals - A-Z Animals Five groups that classify all living things Animalia A group of animals within the animal kingdom Chordata A group of animals within a pylum Aves A group of animals within a class Psittaciformes A group of animals within an order Nestoridae A group of animals within a family Strigops Comprised of the genus followed by the species Strigops Habroptilus The animal group that the species belongs to Bird What kind of foods the animal eats Herbivore How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is 50-60cm (19.7-24in) The measurement of how heavy the animal is 2-4kg (4.5-9lbs) How long the animal lives for 50-65 years Whether the animal is solitary or sociable Solitary The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct Endangered The colour of the animal's coat or markings Green, Brown The protective layer of the animal Feathers The specific area where the animal lives Areas of natural vegetation and dense jungle The average number of babies born at once 2 Other animals that hunt and eat the animal Human, Cats

, Stoats Large body size and unable to fly Kakapo Location Map of Oceania Kakapo The kakapo is one of the largest species of parrot in the world with the average adult kakapo growing to around 60 cm in height.

The kakapo is the heaviest species of parrot in the world and it is due to this weight that the kakapo is one of the few bird species that is unable to fly . The kakapo is native to the forests of New Zealand and the kakapo is not found in the wild anywhere else in the world. The flightless kakapo is thought to have once thrived in it's New Zealand habitat due to the fact that there were no mammals that would hunt the kakapo , and this is thought to be another reason as to why the kakapo has evolved to be a ground dwelling bird . Like many other animal species found on New Zealand's islands , the kakapo was of great importance to the local tribes people and the kakapo appears in many local tales and folklore. The native people would hunt the kakapo for it's meat and it's feathers which the local tribesmen would use to make clothes. Due to the fact that the defenceless kakapo was hunted by the natives and the introduction of predators such as cats , stouts and rats by the European settlers, the kakapo population has been nearly wiped out with less than 150 kakapo individuals thought to have been left in the wild at the start of 2009.

The kakapo is now considered to be one of the most critically endangered animal species on the planet. The kakapo has short wings for it's large size and as it cannot fly , the kakapo mainly uses it's wings to help it balance and to support itself when hopping around in the trees. The kakapo also uses it's wings to help break it's fall when the kakapo leaps onto the ground from the lower branches of the trees. As with all other species of parrot , the kakapo has large scaly feet with two toes facing forwards and two toes facing backwards. This helps the kakapo to hold onto tree branches when the kakapo is perching on them and along with the long, sharp claws of the kakapo , assists the kakapo in climbing up trees. The kakapo has a herbivorous diet , eating seeds, nuts, fruits, berries and flowers. The kakapo is particularly fond of the fruit of the rimu tree and kakapo have been known to feed exclusively on the rimu fruit when they are in abundance. The kakapo has large brown eyes and it is because of it's large eyes that the kakapo is often referred to as the owl parrot .

The shape of the kakapo's head and beak also contributes to the reason as to why the kakapo is known as the owl parrot. During the mating season, male kakapo are often found looking for a female mate and attract one using loud calls and elaborate displays. The kakapo will only breed in years when there is a plentiful supply of food, so the kakapo reproduction process can be a slow one. Kakapo breed later on in life than most birds , with male kakapo reaching sexual maturity at around the age of 5 and female kakapo can be nearly 10 years old before they can breed. Kakapo tend to live very long lives with the average kakapo individual getting to around 60 years old. It is not uncommon however, for kakapo to get to be much older and many kakapo individuals get to be nearly 100 years old. An interesting fact that makes kakapo so unique is that they are in fact nocturnal , so sleep during the day and move about, eat at night. Share This Article What Does the Kakapo Eat? | Animals - mom.me Wildlife and Exotic Animals What Does the Kakapo Eat?

The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) is a type of big parrot that is distinctive in its absolute inability to fly. It is the only species of parrot on the planet without that skill set. The nocturnal creatures, which originate in New Zealand, eat mostly plants in their diet. Kakapos, which are also frequently referred to as "owl parrots" thanks to their massive peepers, can sometimes achieve weights of up to 9 pounds. About the Kakapo Kakapos are rare parrots that have critically endangered status, indicates the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species. These birds have been critically endangered since 2000. The geographic range for kakapos is extremely limited, as they exist on a mere four islands. A variety of risks are associated with the dropping population, including predation by cats. As of early 2012, 126 kakapos still existed. Kakapos typically reside in isolated mountain environments, although throughout the past usually inhabited forest settings. The smooth feathers of kakapos are generally green or light yellow in color. Diet of the Kakapo For the most part, kakapos are herbivorous birds.

Some of these parrots' dietary staples include fern roots, seeds, cones, green shoots, fungi, stems, foliage, moss, nuts, bulbs, pollen, bark and fruit. However, kakapos are not herbivores 100 percent of the time. Occasionally, they also dine on tiny reptiles, bugs and larvae. The season also has an influence on the kakapo diet. Rimu Tree Fruit Preference Although kakapos readily eat a wide array of plants and fruits such as berries, their true meal preference lies in the rimu tree's fruit. In times when this specific fruit is readily available, kakapos tend to feed solely on it. Rimu tree fruit definitely is the kakapo favorite. Eating Styles of the Kakapo Kakapos possess specialized beaks that enable them to pulverize their sustenance within their mouths. Although the majority of birds utilize their gizzards for these chewing purposes, kakapos' gizzards are rather futile. Once a kakapo is through feeding on something, he will leave behind a conspicuous and fibrous chew mass that has a crescent form -- a direct result of his soaking up all of a plant's nourishment.

KAKAPO PARROT All About Wildlife KAKAPO PARROT The Kakapo parrot of New Zealand is a unique creature in several ways. Not only is it the world’s heaviest parrot, weighing up to 9 pounds (4 kilograms) but it is the world’s only only flightless parrot, as well as the only nocturnal one. The bird was once common on both of New Zealand’s main islands. However, by the early 1970’s it was thought to have been driven into extinction by such prolific human-introduced invasive predators as rats and cats, which killed the helpless young birds in their nests on the ground. Tiny populations were later found on a couple of smaller, more remote islands. Despite an intensive program of breeding and protection by the New Zealanders, currently there are fewer than 150 kakapos left in the wild—so few that almost all of them have names given to them by conservationists. Are you a fan of GHOST STORIES as well as wildlife?

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These amazing fish can spit water up to two meters (six feet), and they almost always hit their mark. Ants That Make Slaves Of Other Ants It's one of the weirdest things that happens in nature: One species of ant making slaves of another. The slave-makers are known as Polyergus ants, and they are native to North America. Periodically, Polyergus will raid the colonies of another species, where they use an array of deceptive chemical signals to overcome the other ants. They then carry eggs of the conquered species back to their own colony, where they they raise them and put them to work. One of the most interesting aspects of this slaving behavior is that, not only does the Polyegus queen participate in the raid, but she is key to its success. The queens of all other species of ants never leave the nest. . . . Deep Sea Anglerfish: DON'T Go Into The Light! Deep sea anglerfish live so far down in the ocean that there is very little light in their environment. Creatures at that depth are drawn to any illumination, and the anglerfish takes advantage of that fact by using its natural headlamp to attract prey.

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Almost Unbelievable: The Bird of Paradise Like the bower bird, most of the 42 bird-of-paradise species are found on the Island of New Guinea. Compared to male bower birds, male birds of paradise employ an equally elaborate, though completely different, strategy for attracting mates. They rely not only on their spectacular plumage, but also on their dancing ability in their attempts to convince females to mate with them. In fact, you wouldn't be wrong to call birds of paradise the exotic dancers of the animal world. Kakapo - creation.com by Adrian Bates For copyright reasons we are unable to display here the original images published in Creation magazine. The isolated islands of New Zealand harbour much ‘oddball’ birdlife. Among these is the kakapo 1 —heavyweight of the parrot world. Once, the countryside teemed with these moss-green, ground-dwelling parrots. But today, only about 90 specimens survive—serious contenders for the title of ‘world’s rarest bird’. Weighing in at an impressive 3.5 kg and with no mammalian predators, the kakapo were once numerous in New Zealand.

The only threat it faced was the giant Haast eagle 2 and this danger was avoided by simply standing stock still in the camouflaging undergrowth. In the world of parrots, the kakapo is a bit of a plodder. Despite possessing well developed wings, it is flightless—apart from some glide-assisted jumping. It laboriously climbs trees using claws and beak. The kakapo’s flightlessness is yet another example of ‘downhill’ loss of function. 3 The simplest explanation is that at some time post-Flood, the kakapo’s ancestors could and did fly into New Zealand along with the carnivorous kea 4 and other representatives of the parrot kind now present in New Zealand. The kakapo were able to occupy and survive in a vacant foraging niche that elsewhere would have been claimed by more aggressive ground animals. It is also a nocturnal loner—content to sleep all day and roam the forest floor at night. This may represent an adaptation to avoid predators and competitors during daylight hours. Its habitats range from mountain beech forest to sub-alpine scrub, and even down to sea level when there is suitable food. It eats seeds, berries, bulbs, fern roots, moss and grasses.

A characteristic sign of kakapo is chewed, frayed flax or grass still attached to the plant. The kakapo is a friendly bird, quite happy to be up close to humans. Whisker-like feathers at the base of the beak give the impression of an unkempt old man. The kakapo has its own peculiar odour—described as a musky smell something like Freesia flowers. Kakapo ‘courtship’ The kakapo’s flightlessness is yet another example of ‘downhill’ loss of function. The kakapo are late developers—the males becoming sexually active at about 6 years old and the females waiting until about 10 years old. They live about 40 years. Mating is not, however, a routine annual event. Breeding is triggered by the availability of favoured food—in particular a heavy fruiting cycle of Rimu forest which happens only every few years. When this happens, the stage is set for kakapo courtship! Early settlers were mystified by a strange booming sound at night—often ‘felt’ rather than heard. It was described as being like ‘distant thunder’ and could be heard five kilometres away. This was the male kakapo in all his amorous glory!

The kakapo is one of a select minority of birds 5 known to indulge in ‘lekking’. The male bird seeks out an elevated site and clears a section of hilltop where it then digs a shallow bowl. Leading up to the bowl from various carefully selected directions, it builds tracks—optimistically for the convenience of visiting females. The male then installs himself in the bowl, spreads and slowly flaps his wings and lowers his head. Internally he inflates special air sacs in his thoracic regions 6 and convulsively releases the air in a booming foghorn of noise. Once started, he booms every couple of seconds, pausing briefly only every few minutes. He can boom on for hours, night after night—for up to five months of the year. With other males nearby doing the same thing, it is no surprise that if people happen to be camping nearby they suffer from sleep deprivation! Females apparently discriminate on the basis of the ‘boom’, with only the ‘star’ boomers attracting mates. The females are then left to hatch out and raise the offspring. They nest in crevices or under flax bushes. The chicks are left ‘home alone’ each night as the female forages and then returns hours later.

Easy meat for the Maori When the Maori people arrived in New Zealand about a thousand years ago, the kakapo, asleep during the day, proved an easy food and plumage source. Populations plummeted and the kakapo became limited to living in areas less accessible to humans. The ‘knockout’ blow to the kakapo was, however, yet to be delivered. When Europeans reached New Zealand’s shores in the 18th century, the kakapo was still reasonably widespread. One explorer, Charlie Douglas, wrote in 1899: ‘They could be caught by moonlight, when on the low scrub, by simply shaking the tree or bush until they tumbled to the ground, something like shaking down apples.’ 7 Thus humans obviously had a direct effect on kakapo numbers, but the biggest impact on the kakapo population was from animals that were brought by the European newcomers—weasels and stoats. Introduced specifically to combat rabbits, the little killers launched a kakapo ‘holocaust’. Standing still might have worked with eagles but is a poor defence mechanism against weasels! By the late 19th century, early conservationists realized the bird was in danger of becoming extinct.

Its last bastion in the two main New Zealand islands was in Fiordland—a forbidding and inaccessible wilderness area, known for its incessant rain, in the south of the South Island. Richard Henry was shocked to observe on one of the beaches … a weasel! A self-taught wildlife enthusiast named Richard Henry (1845–1929) was appointed as New Zealand’s first government-funded conservationist. His mission was to transfer kakapo and kiwis (another flightless bird species) from the surrounding mainland to an island haven in a fiord named Dusky Sound. This remarkable man succeeded in his task. In the first six years he relocated some 700 birds to Resolution Island, with the help of a specially trained dog. His meticulous observations of kakapo habits have proved invaluable to later conservationists. However, after 14 years of dedicated effort, while rowing around the island one day, Richard Henry was shocked to observe on one of the beaches … a weasel! He realised that all his hard work was doomed to failure and so it proved. Subsequently sporadic efforts were made to transfer birds to other outlying NZ islands, but then came two world wars when conservation necessarily had a lower priority.

The kakapo holds on In the 1970s the kakapo was supposedly extinct, having disappeared first from the North Island then from the South Island—the last bird being seen near Milford Sound. But in 1977, in a sensational discovery, kakapo were found still surviving on New Zealand’s southernmost major island—Stewart Island. But this colony of approximately 200 birds was vulnerable to feral cats. The decision was made to attempt relocation to other (cat-and weasel-free) islands and a total of 61 birds were successfully moved. Today, the 90 or so surviving kakapo serve as a useful teaching example of how to view the world from the standpoint of biblical history: The kakapo is a parrot, descended from representatives of the original created parrot ‘kind’. In contrast to the first parrots arriving (by air) in New Zealand after the Flood (possibly not very many generations after parrots came off the Ark), the kakapo is flightless. This represents a loss of information, not a gain, and therefore is not evolution (in the sense of the claim that pond scum became parrots).

Kakapo moved into a vacant ecological niche in New Zealand that on other continents would have been occupied by ground animals. In the absence of ground-dwelling predators (absent because they were unable to make the sea crossing), kakapo survived (in stark contrast to flightless parrot mutants on other continents) and multiplied. With the arrival of ground predators, the increased forces of ‘natural selection’ soon impacted New Zealand’s population of birds that had lost the ability to fly—including the kakapo. The flightless kakapo as a species is therefore in danger of extinction, in common with many other animal and bird species around the world—a reminder that we live in a sin-cursed world ‘in bondage to decay’ ( Romans 8:19–22 ) with death an ever-present reality. This is in stark contrast to the original ‘very good’ world in which there were no mutations, and so no death of the unfit. Related Articles Kakapos Fun Facts for Kids Home Â» Animals Â» Birds Â» Flightless Birds Â» Kakapos – The Rare New Zealand Parrots Sponsored Links : Kakapos – The Rare New Zealand Parrots Youâve probably never heard of kakapos, and itâs no wonder.

These large, flightless parrots live in only one place â two islands off the coast of New Zealand . Kakapos are so rare, that they were almost extinct. Several problems have lead to their decline. The kakapos have a strong smell, which makes it easy for predators to find them. The males donât help take care of the babies. When the mothers leave to find food, the babies are easy prey. Opossums eat the same food as kakapos. When opossums eat all the food, the kakapos have nothing to eat. A thing all about kakapos is that these large, flightless parrots live in only one place â two islands off the coast of New Zealand. Fortunately, the New Zealand Department of Conservation stepped in to help the kakapos. Scientists gathered all the birds and took them to two islands where there are no predators â no foxes , no cats , no wild dogs , no rats . Here, scientists are taking care of the birds and helping their numbers grow.

Sponsored Links : Kakapo videos, photos and facts - Strigops habroptila | ARKive Top Kakapo biology The kakapo is the only parrot to have a lek mating system (5) ; early in the breeding season (between December and April) (3) , males gather on display grounds where a number of bowl shaped depressions are dug out in the ground. Having competed for access to the best locations, a male settles into a bowl and then begins to 'boom' to attract females (5) . This strange, very low frequency call can be heard up to five kilometres away, and obtains its resonance via inflatable throat air sacs; lek-displaying males also make a metallic, high pitched 'ching' call (5) . After mating, female kakapos incubate the eggs and rear the chicks alone. Two to three eggs are usually produced and the chicks hatch after 30 days (5) . Sexual maturity is not reached until nine to ten years of age; furthermore, breeding is erratic and slow, occurring every two to five years, and is dictated by the infrequent availability of super-abundant food supplies (3) .

One such event is the 'mast fruiting' of the 'rimu' tree (Dacrydium cupressinum), which only occurs every two to five years (7) . The kakapo feeds on a variety of fruits, seeds, roots, stems, leaves, nectar and fungi (5) . Today, introduced plants are important foods on some islands (3) . Top Kakapo range The subfamily Strigopinae is endemic to New Zealand, and was once widespread within the North, South and Stewart Islands, but is now extinct throughout this former range (2) . Between 1980 and 1997 (3) , all kakapo remaining on Stewart Island were transported to offshore, predator-free islands in order to protect them from introduced mammalian carnivores. The species now occurs on Codfish and Chalky Islands (3) . Top Kakapo status The kakapo is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List (1) , and listed on Appendix I of CITES (4) .

Top Kakapo threats The first human settlers of New Zealand were the Maori, who hunted kakapo for their feathers and meat; the Polynesian dog and rat introduced by the Maori also preyed upon this species (5) . When Europeans began to settle in the 1800s, the range of the kakapo had already dramatically declined, and the situation became critical as Europeans set about clearing forests, hunting and releasing mammalian predators such as domestic cats, dogs, stoats and rats. The kakapo is particularly vulnerable to predation by mammals due to its strong scent, habit of freezing when threatened, and especially its ground nesting behaviour (5) and flightlessness; the latter, together with very slow breeding strategies, are key elements in the demise of many endangered and extinct New Zealand species (8) . Introduced possums and deer compete with the kakapo for food sources (5) . Top Kakapo conservation The drastic measure of removing all surviving kakapo to predator-free islands has averted extinction of this remarkable bird. There is a National Kakapo Team and a ten-year Recovery Plan for the species (5) .

Measures to conserve the kakapo include intensive, invasive management of free-living individuals, including supplementary feeding in order to stimulate and support breeding, and measures to improve the survival of chicks. Although research and management are ongoing, the dedication and hard work have paid off and initial results are very encouraging; the kakapo population has increased from 51 individuals in 1995 to 86 in 2002 (3) . Unfortunately, in July 2004 three young female kakapos died as the result of a mystery infection, taking the total population down to 83 individuals. New Zealand's Department of Conservation was quick to respond, giving the remaining kakapos antibiotics (9) . A productive year in 2009 saw the kakapo population increase to 124 individuals (10) , although the loss of a male in February 2010 brought the total down to 123 (5) . In January 2012, the kakapo population stood at 127 individuals (11) .

For more information on the kakapo see: Kakapo Recovery Programme: Kakapo | All Species Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Critically Endangered The Kakapo (Māori: kākāpō, night parrot), also called owl parrot, is a species of large, flightless, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrot endemic to New Zealand . It has finely blotched yellow-green plumage, a distinct facial disc of sensory, vibrissa-like feathers, a large grey beak, short legs, large feet, and wings and a tail of relatively short length. A certain combination of traits makes it unique among its kind; it is the world's only flightless parrot, the heaviest parrot, nocturnal, herbivorous, visibly sexually dimorphic in body size, has a low basal metabolic rate, no male parental care, and is the only parrot to have a polygynous lek breeding system. It is also possibly one of the world's longest-living birds. The Kakapo is critically endangered. Because of Polynesian and European colonisation and the introduction of predators such as cats, rats, ferrets, and stoats, the Kakapo was almost wiped out.

Contents Edit The Kakapo is a large, rotund parrot; the male measures up to 60 cm (24 in) and weighs from 2 to 4 kg (4 to 9 lb) at maturity. The Kakapo cannot fly, having short wings for its size and lacking the pronounced keel bone (sternum) that anchors the flight muscles of other birds. It uses its wings for balance, support, and to break its fall when leaping from trees. Unlike other land birds, the Kakapo can accumulate large amounts of body fat to store energy, making it the heaviest parrot. The upper parts of the Kakapo have yellowish moss-green feathers barred or mottled with black or dark brownish grey, blending well with native vegetation. Individuals may have strongly varying degrees of mottling and colour tone and intensity – museum specimens show that some birds had completely yellow colouring. The breast and flank are yellowish-green streaked with yellow. The belly, undertail, neck and face are predominantly yellowish, streaked with pale green and weakly mottled with brownish-grey. Because the feathers do not need the strength and stiffness required for flight, they are exceptionally soft.

The Kakapo has a conspicuous facial disc of fine feathers, resembling the face of an owl; thus, early European settlers called it the "owl parrot". The beak is surrounded by delicate vibrissae or "whiskers", which the bird uses to sense the ground for navigation as it walks with its head lowered. The mandible is mostly ivory-coloured, with part of the upper mandible being bluish-grey. The eyes are dark brown. Kakapo feet are large, scaly, and, as in all parrots, zygodactyl (two toes face forward and two backward). The pronounced claws are particularly useful for climbing. The ends of the tail feathers often become worn from being continually dragged on the ground. The female is easily distinguished from the male: she has a more narrow and less domed head, her beak is narrower and proportionally longer, her cere and nostrils smaller, her legs and feet more slender and pinkish grey, and her tail proportionally longer. While her plumage colour is not very different from that of the male, the toning is more subtle, with less yellow and mottling. She tends to resist more and be more aggressive than the male when handled.

A nesting female also has a brood patch on the bare skin of the belly. Like many parrots, the Kakapo has a variety of calls. As well as the booms and chings of their mating calls, it will often skraark to announce its location to other birds. The Kakapo has a well-developed sense of smell, which complements its nocturnal lifestyle. It can discriminate among odours while foraging; a behaviour reported for only one other parrot species. One of the most striking characteristics of the Kakapo is its pleasant and powerful odour, which has been described as musty. Given the Kakapo's well-developed sense of smell, this scent may be a social chemosignal. The smell often alerts predators to the largely defenceless Kakapo. Anatomy Edit The skeleton of the Kakapo differs from other parrots in several features associated with flightlessness. Firstly, it has the smallest relative wing size of any parrot. Its wing feathers are shorter, more rounded, less asymmetrical, and have fewer distal barbules to lock the feathers together. The sternum is small, and has a low, vestigial, keel, and a shortened spina externa.

As in other flightless birds and some other flighted parrots, the furcula is not fused, but consists of a pair of clavicles lying in contact with each coracoid. As in other flightless birds, the angle between the coracoid and sternum is enlarged. The Kakapo has a larger pelvis than other parrots. The proximal bones of the leg and arm are disproportionately long and the distal elements are disproportionately short. The pectoral musculature of the Kakapo is also modified by flightlessness. The pectoralis and supracoracoideus muscles are greatly reduced. The propatagialis tendo longus has no distinct muscle belly. The sternocoracoideus is tendinous. There is an extensive cucularis capitis clavicularis muscle that is associated with the large crop. Ecology and behavior Edit It seems that the Kakapo – like many of New Zealand's bird species – has evolved to occupy an ecological niche normally filled by various species of mammal (the only non-marine mammals native to New Zealand are three species of small bats ). Before the arrival of humans, the Kakapo was distributed throughout the three main islands of New Zealand.

It lived in a variety of habitats, including tussocklands, scrublands and coastal areas. It also inhabited forests, including those dominated by podocarps (rimu, matai, kahikatea, totara), beeches, tawa, and rata. In Fiordland, areas of avalanche and slip debris with regenerating and heavily fruiting vegetation – such as five finger, wineberry, bush lawyer, tutu, hebes, and coprosmas – became known as "Kakapo gardens". The Kakapo is primarily nocturnal; it roosts under cover in trees or on the ground during the day and moves around its territories at night. Though the Kakapo cannot fly, it is an excellent climber, ascending to the crowns of the tallest trees. It can also "parachute" – descending by leaping and spreading its wings. In this way it may travel a few metres (yards) at an angle of less than 45 degrees. Having lost the ability to fly, it has developed strong legs.

Movement is often by way of a rapid "jog-like" gait by which it can move many kilometres.[17] A female has been observed making two return trips each night during nesting from her nest to a food source up to 1 km (0.6 mi) away[23] and the male may walk from its home range to a mating arena up to 5 km (3 mi) away during the mating season (October–January).[24] Young birds indulge in play fighting, and one bird will often lock the neck of another under its chin. The Kakapo is curious by nature and has been known to interact with humans. Conservation staff and volunteers have engaged extensively with some Kakapo, which have distinct personalities. The Kakapo was a very successful species in pre-human New Zealand, and one of the reasons for this was their set of adaptations to effectively avoid predation from native birds of prey, which were their only predators in the past. However, these same behaviours have been of no use to them when faced with the mammalian predators which were introduced to New Zealand after human settlement, because these hunt in different ways.

As hunters, birds behave very differently from mammals, relying on their powerful vision to find prey, and thus they usually (with the exception of owls) hunt by day. Apart from the two surviving New Zealand raptors, the New Zealand Falcon and Swamp Harrier , there were two other birds of prey in pre-human New Zealand: Haast's Eagle and Eyles' Harrier . All four species soared overhead searching for prey in daylight, and to avoid these avian predators, the Kakapo's ancestors adopted camouflaged plumage and became nocturnal. In addition, when the Kakapo feels threatened, it freezes, so that it is more effectively camouflaged in the forest vegetation which their plumage resembles. It was not entirely safe at night, when the Laughing Owl was active, and it is apparent from their nest deposits on Canterbury limestone cliffs that the Kakapo was among their prey. Mammalian predators, in contrast to birds, rely on their sense of smell and hearing to find prey and often hunt by night. The Kakapo's adaptations to avoid avian predation have thus been useless against its new enemies – this is one of the reasons for its massive decline since the introduction of dogs , cats and mustelids .

Diet Edit The beak of the Kakapo is adapted for grinding food finely. For this reason, the Kakapo has a very small gizzard compared to other birds of their size. It is generally herbivorous, eating native plants, seeds, fruits, pollen and even the sapwood of trees. A study in 1984 identified 25 plant species as Kakapo food. It is particularly fond of the fruit of the rimu tree , and will feed on it exclusively during seasons when it is abundant. The Kakapo has a distinctive habit of grabbing a leaf or frond with a foot and stripping the nutritious parts of the plant out with its beak, leaving a ball of indigestible fiber. These little clumps of plant fibres are a distinctive sign of the presence of the bird. The Kakapo is believed to employ bacteria in the foregut to ferment and help digest plant matter. Kakapo diet changes according to the season.

The plants eaten most frequently during the year include some species of Lycopodium ramulosum , Lycopodium fastigium , Schizaea fistulosa , Blechnum minus , Blechnum procerum , Cyathodes juniperina , Dracophyllum longifolium , Olearia colensoi and Thelymitra venosa . Individual plants of the same species are often treated differently. The Kakapo leaves conspicuous evidence of their feeding activities, from 10×10 m (30×30 ft) to 50×100 m (160×300 ft) feeding ground areas. Manuka and yellow silver pine scrubs are obvious signs of its centre of feeding activities. Reproduction Shagged by a Kakapo A kakapo attempting to mate with a human The Kakapo is the only species of flightless parrot in the real world, and the only flightless bird that has a lek breeding system. Males loosely gather in an arena and compete with each other to attract females. Females listen to the males as they display, or "lek".

They choose a mate based on the quality of his display; they are not pursued by the males in any overt way. No pair bond is formed; males and females meet only to mate. During the courting season, males leave their home ranges for hilltops and ridges where they establish their own mating courts. These leks can be up to 7 kilometres (4 mi) from a Kakapo's usual territory and are an average of 50 metres (160 ft) apart within the lek arena. Males remain in the region of their court throughout the courting season. At the start of the breeding season, males will fight to try to secure the best courts. They confront each other with raised feathers, spread wings, open beaks, raised claws and loud screeching and growling. Fighting may leave birds with injuries or even kill them. Each court consists of one or more saucer-shaped depressions or "bowls" dug in the ground by the male, up to 10 centimetres (4 in) deep and long enough to fit the half-metre length of the bird. The Kakapo is one of only a handful of birds in the world which actually constructs its leks.

Bowls are often created next to rock faces, banks, or tree trunks to help reflect sound - the bowls themselves function as amplifiers to enhance the projection of the males' booming mating calls. Each male's bowls are connected by a network of trails or tracks which may extend 50 metres (160 ft) along a ridge or 20 metres (60 ft) in diameter around a hilltop. Males meticulously clear their bowls and tracks of debris. One way researchers check whether bowls are visited at night is to place a few twigs in the bowl; if the male visits overnight, he will pick them up in his beak and toss them away. To attract females, males make loud, low-frequency (below 100 Hz) booming calls from their bowls by inflating a thoracic sac. They start with low grunts, which increase in volume as the sac inflates. After a sequence of about 20 loud booms, the male Kakapo emits a high frequency, metallic "ching" sound. He stands for a short while before again lowering his head, inflating his chest and starting another sequence of booms.

The booms can be heard at least one kilometre (0.6 mi) away on a still night; wind can carry the sound at least five kilometres (3 mi). Males boom for an average of eight hours a night; each male may produce thousands of booms in this time. This may continue every night for three or four months during which time the male may lose half his body weight. Each male moves around the bowls in his court so that the booms are sent out in different directions. These booms are also notorious for attracting predators, because of the long range at which they can be heard. Females are attracted by the booms of the competing males; they too may need to walk several kilometres from their territories to the arena. Once a female enters the court of one of the males, the male performs a display in which he rocks from side to side and makes clicking noises with his beak. He turns his back to the female, spreads his wings in display and walks backwards towards her. The duration of attempted copulation is between 2 to 14 minutes. Once the birds have mated, the female returns to her home territory to lay eggs and raise the chicks. The male continues booming in the hope of attracting another female.

The female Kakapo lays 1-2 eggs (rarely 3) per breeding cycle, with long intervals between laying of first and second eggs. She nests on the ground under the cover of plants or in cavities such as hollow tree trunks. The female incubates the eggs faithfully, but is forced to leave them every night in search of food. Predators are known to eat the eggs and the embryos inside can also die of cold in the mother's absence. Kakapo eggs usually hatch within 30 days, bearing fluffy grey chicks that are quite helpless. After the eggs hatch, the female feeds the chicks for three months, and the chicks continue to remain with the female for some months after fledging. The young chicks are just as vulnerable to predators as the eggs, and young have been killed by many of the same predators that attack adults. Chicks leave the nest at approximately 10 to 12 weeks of age. As they gain greater independence, their mothers may feed the chicks sporadically for up to 6 months. Because the Kakapo is long-lived, with an average life expectancy of 95 years and the maximum at about 120 years, it tends to have an adolescence before it starts breeding.

Males do not start to boom until about 5 years of age. It was thought that females reach sexual maturity at 9 years of age; but this idea was debunked in the 2008 breeding season when two 6-year-old females named Apirama and Rakiura laid eggs. Generally females do not seek out males until they are between 9 and 11 years old. The Kakapo does not breed every year and has one of the lowest rates of reproduction among birds. Breeding occurs only in years when trees mast (fruit heavily), providing a plentiful food supply. Rimu mast occurs only every three to five years, so in rimu-dominant forests such as those on Codfish Island, Kakapo breeding occurs as infrequently. Another interesting aspect of the Kakapo's breeding system is that a female can alter the sex ratio of her offspring depending on her condition. A female who eats protein-rich foods produces more male offspring (males have 3%–40% more body weight than females). Females produce offspring biased toward the dispersive sex when competition for resources (such as food) is high and toward the non-dispersive sex when food is plentiful.

A female Kakapo will likely be able to produce eggs even when there are few resources, while a male Kakapo will be more capable of perpetuating the species when there are plenty, by mating with several females. This supports the Trivers–Willard hypothesis. The relationship between clutch sex ratio and maternal diet has conservation implications, because a captive population maintained on a high quality diet will produce fewer females and therefore fewer individuals valuable to the recovery of the species. The Kakapo (Strigops Habroptilus) Kakapo dancing and displaying. There are now only about 62 kakapo left on the planet. Once New Zealand hosted hundreds of thousands of the pudgy parrots. They had no natural predators for quite some time, and their unfortunate situation is almost entirely the result of humans arriving to the islands. New Zealand had no mammals (except for two species of bat) for millions of years. Their only predator was a giant eagle which became extinct long ago. A few thousand years ago, the first Polynesian people came and decimated the population through hunting the kakapo as well as chopping and burning down the forests the birds lived in. They also brought the polynesian rat, 'kiore', as well as various other mammals.

The situation became far worse when Europeans arrived 150 years ago. Huge areas were cleared for farms, and they brought predators such as ferrets, cats, stoats, rats, and dogs which killed the kakapo easily, because the parrot does not recognize them as dangerous. Why? The kakapo had lived for thousands of years without mammals around. The parrots did not have to avoid those kinds of predators. They became flightless, as there was nothing to fly and escape from. Now, their flightlessness renders them almost defenceless. When confronted by an enemy, they neither attack nor retreat. The kakapo's only ingrained way of dealing with danger is to become absolutely still and allow it's feathers to act as camouflage. This worked well centuries ago, when the kakapos' main enemies were the giant eagle and other birds that hunted by sight. Today this is useless against mammalian hunters which rely on smell, and unfortunately for the kakapo, it has a strong, sweet, musky scent. The kakapos' skins were highly prized by the Maori people. Some cloaks were made from kakapo feathers, and they were also used to fill mattresses and pillows.

It is rumored that kakapo was one of their principle foods until the introduction of the kumara (a type of sweet potato). In 1845 the first kakapo was found by a European. The bird was found to be quite a tasty meal- and there began a slaughter of unprecedented proportions. During the gold rush of the 1860-70s, diggers lived on a diet of kakapo, until they tired of the taste. Exploring parties made kakapo the principle item of their diet, and in later times, tourists shot and ate kakapo as well. Kakapo, still dancing. The skin of the first found kakapo was sent to England where it was studied and described. By 1889 the kakapo became regarded as the oldest and least developed parrot. This did nothing to stop the killing of the helpless kakapo. In fact, demand for their stuffed skins increased because the bird was so strange. By 1934, specimens of the kakapo were installed in museums and private collections around the world. Most major museums had several carcasses.

The market was so flooded with skins they were worth only 37p each, and in previous years they were so abundant they were even fed to dogs for meat. With all of these things happening, by the 1930s humans had caused the kakapos' extinction on the north island of New Zealand. Although slaughter by man finally ebbed and ceased, the predation by introduced mammals continued. Kiore (the Polynesian rat) were introduced by the Maoris within the last few thousand years and had been a factor in the kakapos' slow decline from some areas before Europeans arrived. The major problems began 150 years ago, when cats, dogs, and rats introduced by Europeans fed on great numbers of the unwary birds. Even seemingly harmless deer did their part in the decline of the kakapo, by competing for the more succulent food plants and eliminating the more palatable species. The major culprits, though, were stoats and feral cats who moved into the woods, grasslands and just about any habitable area of New Zealand. The kakapo was running out of food, safe places to live, and out of time as a species.

Kakapo | New Zealand Birds Online Breeding and ecology The kakapo is a large, nocturnal, flightless, lek-breeding parrot – a real oddity. It is also critically endangered, and the focus of considerable conservation attention. Before humans arrived it was common throughout New Zealand’s forests, but predation by introduced mammals brought it to the brink of extinction - a low point of about 50 birds only in the mid 1990s. The transfer of the whole population to predator-free islands and intensive intervention in every stage of its life has led to a steady increase in numbers. Kakapo have no close relatives. Identification A large flightless forest-dwelling parrot, with a pale owl-like face. Kakapo are moss green mottled with yellow and black above, and similar but more yellow below. The bill is grey, and the legs and feet grey with pale soles. Voice: males make a deep booming call (“booming”) and a loud wheezing call (“chinging”) to attract mates to their leks. Both sexes make a loud high pitched skraak call (“skraaking”).

Similar species: kaka and kea are the only species with which kakapo might be confused, but their moss green colour, large size, flightlessness and nocturnal habits make them easy to distinguish. It is also very unlikely that any kakapo exist other than at a few managed sites, and so the chances of misidentification are very low. Distribution and habitat Once found throughout New Zealand, kakapo started declining in range and abundance after the arrival of Maori. They disappeared from the North Island by about 1930, but persisted longer in the wetter parts of the South Island. The last birds died out in Fiordland in the late 1980s. A population of less than two hundred birds was discovered on Stewart Island in 1977, but this population was also declining due to cat predation. During the 1980s and 1990s the entire known population was transferred to Codfish Island off the coast of Stewart Island, Maud Island in the Marlborough Sounds and Little Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Since then birds have been moved between Codfish, Maud and Little Barrier Islands as well as to and from newly predator-free Chalky and Anchor Islands in Fiordland. Kakapo now occur only on forested islands, though they previously appeared to have inhabited a wide range of vegetation types. Population A total of 125 birds was known in September 2012. All carry radio transmitters and are intensively monitored and managed. It is possible there are a few birds remaining on Stewart Island, and perhaps even a few in Fiordland. Threats and conservation Adult kakapo are vulnerable to predation by cats and stoats, and their eggs and chicks can be killed by rats. Females alone incubate eggs and raise chicks. As they must spend long periods away from the nest feeding, eggs and chicks are particularly vulnerable to predation when the nest is unattended. Chick-rearing is protracted, and nests become smelly and easy for predators to find. Away from nests, kakapo usually freeze and rely on cryptic colouration to hide them from predators. While this strategy worked when the main predators were birds that hunted by sight, it is a completely ineffective strategy to avoid mammalian predators that hunt by smell.

Attempts to protect kakapo from introduced predators by transferring them to Resolution Island in the 1890s failed when stoats swam to the island. In the 1980s and 1990s transfers to completely predator-free Maud Island and to Little Barrier and Codfish Islands which only had kiore halted the kakapo’s decline. However, the population did not start to increase until kiore were removed from the islands and the birds were more intensively managed. Intensive management comprised moving the birds between islands, protecting nests from rats, supplementary feeding adults, closely monitoring eggs and chicks, and rescuing and hand-raising any failing chicks. Kakapo have very low genetic diversity and, as a consequence, low fertility. Much recent conservation management has focussed on managing matings, and using artificial insemination to minimise further genetic loss. Breeding Kakapo breed in summer and autumn, but only in years of good fruit abundance. On islands in southern New Zealand they breed when the rimu trees fruit, which is once every 2 to 4 years. Elsewhere in New Zealand they probably nested when southern beech seeded, but the triggers for breeding in some northern places, including Little Barrier Island, are unknown.

Kakapo are lek breeders. Males call from track-and-bowl systems to attract females for mating. Males play no part in incubation or chick-rearing. The nests are on or under the ground in natural cavities or under dense vegetation. The 1-4 eggs laid in a shallow depression in the soil or rotten wood, which is repeatedly turned-over before and during incubation. Behaviour and ecology Kakapo are nocturnal and solitary, occupying the same home range for many years. They forage on the ground and climb high into trees. They often leap from trees and flap their wings, but at best manage a controlled plummet. Food Kakapo are entirely vegetarian. Their diet includes, leaves, buds, flowers, fern fronds, bark, roots, rhizomes, bulbs, fruit and seeds. Diet varies seasonally. Websites Mission Kākāpō Copulation – a light-hearted look at the extraordinary efforts that have been made by the Department of Conservation's Kākāpō Recovery Team References Atkinson, I.A.E.; Merton, D.V. 2006.

Habitat and diet of kakapo (Strigops habroptilis) in the Esperance Valley, Fiordland, New Zealand. Notornis 53: 37-54. Ballance, A. 2010. Kakapo: rescued from the brink of extinction. Craig Potton Publishing Limited. Butler, D.J. 2006. The habitat, food and feeding ecology of kakapo in Fiordland: a synopsis from the unpublished MSc thesis of Richard Gray. Notornis 53: 55-79. Cockrem, J.F. 2006. The timing of breeding in the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus). Notornis 53: 153-159. Cottam, Y.; Merton, D.V.; Hendriks, W. 2006. Nutrient composition of the diet of parent-raised kakapo nestlings. Notornis 53: 90-99. Eason, D.; Moorhouse, R. 2006.

Hand-rearing kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), 1997-2005. Notornis 53: 116-125. Eason, D.K.; Merton, D.V.; Elliott, G.P.; Jansen, P.W.; Harper, G.A.; Moorhouse, R.J. 2006. Breeding biology of kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) on offshore island sanctuaries, 1990-2002. Notornis 53: 27-36. Elliott, G.P. 2006. A simulation of the future of kakapo. Notornis 53: 164-172. Elliott, G.P.; Eason, D.K.; Jansen, P.W.; Merton, D.V.; Harper, G.A.; Moorhouse, R.J. 2006. Productivity of kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) on offshore island refuges. Notornis 53: 138-142.

Elliott, G.P.; Jansen, P.W.; Merton, D.M. 2001. Intensive management of a critically endangered species: the kakapo. Biological Conservation 99: 121-133 Farrimond, M.; Clout, M.N.; Elliott, G.P. 2006. Home range size of kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) on Codfish Island. Notornis 53: 150-152 Farrimond, M.; Elliott, G.P.; Clout, M.N. 2006. Growth and fledging of kakapo. Notornis 53: 112-115. Harper, G.A.; Elliott, G.P.; Eason, D.K.; Moorhouse, R.J. 2006. What triggers nesting of kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)? Notornis 53: 60-63. Harper, G.A.; Joice, J. 2006. Agonistic display and social interaction between female kakapo (Strigops habroptilus).

Notornis 53: 195-197. Higgins, P.J. (ed.) 1999. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds. Vol. 4, parrots to dollarbird. Oxford University Press, Melbourne. Jansen, P.W. 2006. Kakapo recovery: the basis of decision-making. Notornis 53: 184-190. Powlesland, R.G.; Cockrem, J.F.; Merton, D.V. 2006. A parrot apart: the natural history of the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) and the context of its conservation management. Notornis 53: 3-26. Raubenheimer, D.; Simpson, S.J. 2006. The challenge of supplementary feeding: can geometric analysis help save the kakapo. Notornis 53: 100-111. Robertson, B.C. 2006. The role of genetics in kakapo recovery. Notornis 53: 173-183. Tipa, R.

2006. Kakapo in Maori lore. Notornis 53: 193-194. Walsh, J.; Wilson, K.-J.; Elliott, G.P. 2006. Seasonal changes in home range and habitat selection by kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) on Maud Island. Notornis 53: 143-149. Wilson, D.J.; Grant, A.D.; Parker, N. 2006. Diet of kakapo in breeding and non-breeding years on Codfish Island (Whenua Hou) and Stewart Island. Notornis 53: 80-89. Wood, J.R. 2006. Subfossil kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) remains from near Gibraltar Rock, Cromwell Gorge, Central Otago, New Zealand. Notornis 53: 191-193. Recommended citation

Question: What kind of creature is a kakapo?
Answer: Parrot