The giveaway is now closed. The lucky winner is Margaret Brown from Wainuiomata. Thanks for your comments everyone.
Skraaaaarrrk! Sirocco: The Rock-Star Kakapo book will be launched on Friday and, thanks to Random House NZ, I’ve got a copy to give away.
“Aimed at children, but equally appealing to adults, Sirocco: The Rock-Star Kakapo by Sarah Ell, tells the story of the remarkable parrot who has become a worldwide sensation.”
Did you read that? I’m a remarkable parrot! I’m a worldwide sensation! Boom! Truthfully, we already knew that though, didn’t we?
“Following his journey from sick chick to conservation superstar, the book also features more specific information about kakapo and the recovery programme.”
I’ve always said, “No kakapo is an island”. It’s nice to know that my kakapo mates, and the recovery programme, get a shout out in my story.
“With royalties from the book going to Kakapo Recovery, readers can enjoy Sirocco’s story whilst also knowing they are playing their part to aid his species’ recovery.”
So, even if you don’t win a copy, you should probably buy one. Kakapo Recovery, and your coffee table, will thank you for it.
To be in to win a copy of Sirocco: The Rock-Star Kakapo, leave a comment on this post before 12 noon, Thursday 6 September 2012, telling me why you want the book. A winner will be selected at random and contacted by email.
The giveaway is open to everyone, except employees of the Department of Conservation, Random House New Zealand, and their immediate families.
Good luck!
Sirocco: The Rock-Star Kakapo is valued at $24.99 and will be available from all good bookstores nationwide.
I would love a copy of this book. I am a kakpo lover, a Sirrocco fan, have seen him once and am booked to see him again in Cambridge . I wish to be a successful breeding kakapo for my next life (honest! I am a buddhist)
I would love the chance to win this book, my fiance is the biggest Kakapo fan in the world and has actually done 2 essay’s on them while she was in college. Her dream is to one day actually see one in real life.
I would simply love a copy of this book. As a bookworm, budding conservationist and kakapo lover, it would be the perfect addition to my biological bookshelf. Plus, as a recent graduate, I am completely broke. So as much as I would love to meet Sirocco, my chances are slim for the near future!
Sirocco, you are definitely a Rock Star. Would love to read your biography 🙂
Fantastic Book- can’t wait.
Oh please! This would be awesome to win. At work we provide some forecasts for when they want to fly Kakapo off of Codfish Island, it’d be awesome to learn more about what we’re helping with.
I have just spent two lovely weekends showing an overseas guest from South Africa around the Bay of Islands and Rotorua taking in as much of our wonderful country as possible. One of the biggest memories he will take away is the love of the NZ bush, native trees and our bird life, the tuis, fantails, woodpigeons. If I won this book it would be a wonderful parting gift for him to take back to Cape Town to share our country with his family.
i would like to know more about this special bird
Because I love kakapos. I want to share this with my nephew! He would totally dig it.
I was fascinated by his story from the first moment I heared it. Stephen Fry´s documentary about him gave it a boost. I´d like to know more about him, and my daughter would love to read that book, remembering the three years we spent in New Zealand as a family.
I’ve been in love with kakapo ever since reading Last Chance to See, years ago. It is one of my dreams to be able to travel to New Zealand and interact with them. I tell any bird fancier who’ll listen about them and their plight. Sirocco is an amazing little spokesbird, and I’d love to learn more about him. This will make the third book about these remarkable little beasts that I’ve imported. I greatly look forward to sitting down with it.
I have not had the good fortune to meet Sirocco in person, however I ADORE him. I also have the greatest respect and admiration for the dedicated people that are working to save this wonderful species. This book would be a joy to have. Thank-you.
What a great way to encourage the grandchildren to learn more about our wonderful Kakapo here in NZ!
How awesome is Sirocco and his feathery friends? It’s only fitting that there’s now a book dedicated to the spokesbird of his species. It can only help share the love (and he has so much to give!) and spread the word about the need to do everything we can to ensure these special birds live on to delight future generations of us non-feathered non-beaked non-green beings 🙂
I love Sirocco but since I’m from Hong Kong it’s quite impossible for me to travel half way around the planet to meet him, so I hope I’ll be able to know more about him in this book! Keep up with the good work in the kakapo conservation program and hopefully I’ll get to meet a real kakapo one day!
I learned about Sirocco/kakapos by watching ‘Last chance to see’ and it was love at first sight! Since I can’t have Sirocco for my 30th birthday on Decemer 1st, this book would be a great second choice!
I am an avid bird fan and have recently finished reading Kakapo, Rescued from the brink of extinction, in which Sirocco is introduced. I would love to follow his ‘official’ story further. It is a goal to develop my research skills at university in order to be able to join and contribute physically to the Kakapo Recovery Programme.
Ever since I watched Sirocco on “Last Chance to See” with Stephen Fry, and nearly died laughing, I’ve been following him on Facebook. What a champ!
This would be wonderful for my children (and us, too, of course)! We’re kakapo crazy around here!
Sirocco is such a handsome parrot, a book about him would be awesome to own!
This would go beautifully with my Black Robin book autographed by Don Merton. RIP
I live in Germany and will probably and sadly never have the oppertunity to meet Sirocco in person. I World be very happy to Owen that Book. 😀
I already have multiple books on keas (Beak of the Moon, A Kea on my Bed, etc) on my shelf, and it’s about time I add a work on kakapos. What better book to start with than one on Sirocco 🙂 ?! All my best for the launch, may your story and pictures bring joy to thousands of children (as well as adults).
My daughter and I are so excited about meeting Sirocco on Saturday night. I did an assignment on the Kakapo when I was 8 and now my daughter will get to meet him when she is 8!
Love kakapo, and would love to share this with my awesome class of kids.
I believe that my niece Marrissa would benefit from this book. She has won many prizes on her science project about Kakapo. I think that she could find more info for this years project.
I’d love to win a copy as I collect all things KAKAPO!
I have yet to meet Sirroco but when I worked for the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary as their teacher I meet a number of that season’s babies who we hosted for Nelsonians to visit!
I would like to win this book because I’m a conservation nut. I’m a vet who works with wildlife, and I’m doing my masters in conservation medicine at the moment. I’d love to own this book and share it with others. (And if I don’t win it, I’ll buy it anyway!)
my bookshelf would look so much bettter with this book on it.
<3 Sirocco <3
we love kakapos… my daughter and son both plan to save all the endangered animals … (they are 7 and 4) … i’m sure they would love this book!
I would love to win this book about amazing little Sirocco! I love all animals, and have an especially soft spot for birds and parrots, and Sirocco is an absolute STAR. I am a primary teacher and would love to share the story of Sirocco and the plight of the Kakapo with all the kids.
Great to see you at Maungatautari last Saturday night!
I plan on visiting Sirocco just up the road while he is at Mangatautiri.
So my little nephew can learn about Sirocco and his beautiful friends 🙂
Hope the book becomes a best seller!
I would like to win a copy of Sirocco: The Rock-Star Kakapo for the coffee table in my music studio. Whilst waiting for their lessons, students can thus learn about the importance of helping save our endangered species.
“You are being shagged by a rare parrot!”, it was the best part of Last chance to see and how we first saw Sirocco. We fell in love with him when we saw the happyness and awesomeness on Siroccos face 🙂 if we cant win hope the book will be available outside of NZ. Greetings from Holland!
My sons (4 & 7 yrs old) went to see this gorgeous chappie at Maungatauturi last month. The boys havent stopped talking about him ever since. We are now all out Kakapo lovers, especially Sirocco after we heard about his antics on Maud Island. We are so excited about the Kakapo coming to Maungatauturi, we cant wait!
I want this book because… well I love animals and I want to do everything I can to save them. Kakapos and all the other endangered animals are too close to extinction… And this isn’t natural at all! It’s all because of us, the humans, and now we must do something. 🙂
I usually never win… but I want to try this one as I’ve been fascinated by kakapos for so many years. I studied primates and did a PhD on orangutan conservation but it never altered my fascination for kakapos. A passion that began as a child when my father offered me a gift from one of his new zealand’s colleague: a book on new zealand’s wildlife. And here was this fabulous bird who trigered my imagination and whom I got hooked with.
I’ve never had the chance to go and meet the kakapos (yet…) and I’m crossing my fingers but in case it never happens, I would love to meet Sirocco through his biography and would so much love to win this surely fabulous book !
Oh, my. I would love to have a copy of this book! It is a wonderful story that must be shared across the world. Sirocco has inspired many of us to work towards saving our endangered native species.
Ever since I first learnt about Kakapo I have been telling everyone who will listen all about them. Having this book would help me spread the word about this wonderful flightless parrot.
We are a kakapo mad house! Our favourite bird 🙂
I teach disadvantaged Aboriginal children and they love stories about the real world to inspire and motivate their thinking and writing. I have a trip to New Zealand planned in 3 weeks time and intend to share as much of your beautiful country as I can with my class.
I love Sirocco…always have been a fan. Kakapo are my favourite NZ bird and Sirocco does so much to inspire awareness in the breeding recovery of this fabulous bird.
My husband and I would love to share this book about the Kakapo with our family. They are remarkable parrots and so colourful.
My cousin was fortunate enough to find a kakapo iwhile working with DOC. They are such a beautiful bird!
Sirocco is my favourite parrot superstar! I’d like to win the book – since I live in Denmark this book will probably be the closest I’ll ever get to meet Sirocco or any kakapo. I’d like to share the book with my sister who also loves Sirocco.
I am an early childhood teacher and in our daycare, we constantly teach the children all about our precious NZ native wildlife and what we need to do to protect them and our unique country. These little children NEED to learn about our precious and absolutely unique Kakapo.
We are looking forward to seeing you beautiful Sirocco on the 19th at Maungatautari 🙂
I adore kakapo and Sirocco is a superstar!!! My coffee table is naked and what it needs is this beautiful book!!! 🙂
We were lucky enough to see Sirocco at Maungatautari on Monday night, he’s a fantastic ambassador for his species, fingers crossed that all the good conservation work can continue and in a few years they’ll be enough Kakapo for everyone to meet in person 🙂
I would love to win this book so I can share it with my grandchildren to give them some idea about conservation and how important it is.
I don’t want to win the book. I’ll buy a copy because it will help to conserve the species. Just send me the details when it goes on sale in South Africa
My daughter is three and loves the Orokanui Sanctuary here in Dunedin. She would die happy!
Would love to win this book for our school library. We are researching endangered species this term. This would be a wonderful book to add to the collection
Would love to share this book with my kids,Sirroco is so endearing and education is one of our best defences for these magnificent birds.
I love our native birds – the kakapo is awesome!
We met Sirocco at Maungatautari and I fell in love! He’s such a character who’s very interactive and friendly. The experience blew my mind and I left on a HIGH! I’d love to have a reminder of him sitting on my coffee table where I can see him every day 🙂
I’ve been to see Sirocco at Maungatautari and really admire the way he does green! I’ve been spreading his story via Facebook and email to help the greatest conservation story in New Zealand.
I am a huge fan of the Kakapo, and although I live on the other side of the world, I still do my best to help protect this beautiful bird.
I would sure love to have a book about a rockstar, I love Kakapo’s and have photos i have taken all over nz of them on my walls would be great to have this book on coffee table for friend to read and learn more
Olly (age 7) and I would love to win your book Sirocco but if we don’t we’ll save up and buy it anyway! And you are way cooler than any rock star!
Its my birthday on the 15th and this would be an amazing addition to my Kakapo collection. I have been a huge fan and get everything I can to do with them that I can find and donate whenever possible. I even have photos and letters from the legendary Don Merton from when I was at primary school and started to be fascinated by them. My son also loves Kakapo and this would be a fantastic book to share with him. I would love to win please please
I’ve always been fascinated by these fabulous birds, collected stuffed toy versions and any books that featured them. Would love this to add to my collection – am a dedicated kakapo fan.
I would like to win a copy for the Library at the school that I work at. The girls are very aware of their environment winning greenest school in our area. They would truly love to read about Sirocco and help his mates out a little, even if it is across the Tasman.
Would love to share this with my daughter!!! so important!!
I recently saw this carasmatic Kakapo who was deeply enthralled with a tv documentary hosts head to the point of arousal. That’s the kids these days need to see and learn about. And I’d love the opportunity to meet this lad one day x
My 11year old Daughter is in love with these guys. They are so stunning!.We read the Kakapo from the brink on Extinction. What a fabulous book. Would love to see Sirocco in person but may have to be happy to settle for the book all about him. He sounds like a loveable character..
I would sure love to have a book about a rockstar who is also a bird on my coffee table! Love you Sirocco, and everything you are doing in the name of conservation. I work with a parrot rescue in the United States and have been blessed to help rescue and rehabilitate some of your New Zealand native cockatoo cousins. I doubt I’ll ever have the chance to go to New Zealand and meet a Kakapo, but having your book would be pretty cool.
I’d love to win thanks 🙂
I’d love to win this as a present for my UK migrant friend – it’s her birthday today and she has fallen in love with Sirocco
I would love to win a copy of this book but if I don’t, I’ll surely buy one…Sirocco and his kind have captured my heart. I would dearly love to visit NZ and see these wonderous creatures before I die (it’s on my “bucket list”) and am hoping that the recovery continues for many years to come. Kakapo…thrive and multiply!!!
I want to give a copy to my 2 year old nephew Zac, so make sure we know where we can purchase one from! Well done, fantastic idea, Sirrocco is a great ambassador for New Zealand!
Sirocco’s biography would be perfect on our coffee table. Not only have we been following the great work of kakapo conservation the past few years, we enjoy playing the game Rock Band with our family each week. Having a true rock star such as Sirocco in our lounge with us will make everything complete. Rock on Sirocco!
I read about kakapo owl parrot in the book by Douglas Adams. Very sad story. So I started to look for more information. Everything was so interesting! I am from Europe and I can’t see this unussual bird in real. Sirocco is my favourite star and I love his comments! One thing I want to know: what is the sweet smell of the kakapo? It is said to be strange, sweet, just specific. I am too far to find out.
I’m only a visitor to your islands but I’ve fallen in love with the native birds. Since my schedule unfortunately doesn’t allow me to meet Sirocco, I’d love to be able to take a copy of the book with me back home as a consolation.
Hi I would treasure this book as I am a advocate for protection and enrichment of all NZ endangered species – especially one as handsome as Sirocco =)
Would love to win a copy of this awesome book about an incredible species!
I have a great interest in rare and unusual animals like the Kakapo. I would love to add this book to my collection 🙂
He’s gorgeous as well as famous – I’d love to own this book and can’t wait to see him at Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust (he’s there til Septemer 26)
Would love to go to NZ and see a kakapo and a tuatara.. To see Sirocco would be amazing!
I am french student and discovered the endangered Kakapo in a course of biodiversity, I am now in love with the kakapo, and follow Sirocco on Facebook!
Hey handsome rock star. Met you in Wellington. I’d like to know if there’s any chance of been as handsome and gave such a rock star following as you. Or if I will be left in the shadows like boring pigeons and sparrows. The common pigeon not bit fatty kereru who rock the world, less than you of course.
Kakapos are my favorite birds! I haven’t had the chance to travel to NZ yet (from the US here) but I fully support their cause!
Every time I have visited over the years, I have yet to ‘catch up’ with Sirocco. I’m sure it’s all a plot! The chance to read about him, and see all of his gorgeous colourings, and to pass around such a book would be wonderful.
The NZ native birds are just so beautiful and unique that they all need to be looked after, and Sirocco is a great spokesbird. [ and RIP Greg the takahe, whom I *did* get to meet one memorable day]
Here in NZ, most of us recognise Sirocco and his mates. Some of us have been lucky enough to have spent time with them. For those who have never visited NZ, few appreciate our very special birds. If I won, I would be sending this book overseas, to bird lovers in our countries so they too can begin to understand NZ’s very special biodiversity and our efforts to save it.
I would love Sirocco’s biography, I tell all my friends to like his facebook page and a group of us are super excited about meeting him at Maungatautari. Love you sirocco, you’re a babe
I would love this book because, in my universe, Sirocco is the only star that outshines Sir David Attenborough.
I’m so excited that I’m going to see you in real life later this month! Love you Sirocco!
I missed meeting Sirocco as his visit to Orokonui Sanctuary was cancelled and I was so disappointed. I know my family would love this book.
I would love to win a copy of this book. Beautiful pictures plus great information all in one place 🙂
I met Sirocco at his home in Maud Island when I went to do volunteer work. Since then I haven’t stop speaking about him to my friends! There are still only 130 kakapos in the world. The conservation of this species will take many many years of effort. Keep the good work DoC. We all support what you are doing!
I’d love a copy of the book about a famous “big, green budgie” to read with my little, green budgie!
I love kakapo! I saw Sirocco when he visited Wellington last year and he is amazing 🙂
Hey Handsome! What a lovely book this would be, to tell your story (and show your pictures) to anyone and everyone who’ll listen. And help save your species too! I’ll be buying one anyway, I hope you’re enjoying your stay on Maungatautari, and tell all your rellies what a nice mountain it is to holiday, or live on. Bye for now 🙂
I’d love to win this book – after meeting Sirocco in Wellington last year it would be great to learn more about him!
I would like to receive the book because I really love kakapo
A giant sweet-smelling big-footed flightless adorable green parrot that digs bowls and puffs up into a big baritone ballon?? Only just the perfect pet ever –the parrot of my dreams. But of course, The One I can never own…so thus I live vicariously through Sirroco and the awesome team that keeps him and the other kakapo rockin’ on. So happy he finally gets his own book, he’s such a character and spokesbird. Plus he spells better than the majority of my facebook friends so hey!
This is a great idea. Will spread the word and will definitely be buying this one. Just because Kakapo are so remarkable. Best of luck. 🙂
Sirocco is my buddy and showed me the depth of his feelings when I volunteered as a cook for his human captors on Codfish Island a while back. it was a very memorable experience (for me anyway).
When I was a kid I read a haunting story about lonely male kakapo booming in Fiordland and having no prospects of finding love. It stuck with me and has lead to a lifelong passion for kakapo and conservation of our unique flora & fauna.
This book would do more than grace my coffee table, I would make sure every visitor to my home and all my work collegues read it in the hope that they would understand the delight that Sirocco and his pals bring to me!
Hello funny bird! Yout skraaaaarks and boooooms make me laugh. The world needs your kind!
Sirocco is such as star and it would be wonderful to have this book about him sitting on my coffee table for everyone who visits to read and learn about the fabulous, beautiful, endearing kakapo. I have loved the kakapo for many years and look forward sharing this book and my love for all kakapo, especially Sirocco the most famous of them all, with my grandchildren, their friends, and anyone else who will listen!
I have followed the Kakapo story since sometime in the 1980’s – when you could only get information via the occasional PBS special or magazine articles. It’s much easier now, and I fell in love with the BGBOL the first time I laid eyes on his profile photo! Would love to have this book!
I am madly in love with Sirocco!!!!! To win this book would be golden!!!!!! BOOM!
It all began with a little chapter called “Heartbeats in the Night”….
Douglas Adams introduced me to the Kakapo, and I’ve been following the amazing birds ever since! I’d love to win the book because it’d be the next best thing to what Mark Carwardine got! Boom!
Having met Sirocco a couple weeks back, I can see why he is referred to as a Rock Star. Great work by the KR team in showing him off, and to the bird himself, good luck with the book 🙂
I’ve met Sirocco and he is one cool dude! I’d love to learn more about him 🙂 All the best in your travels Sirocco
I would really like to have this book for a few reasons. One of them being that I’ve no idea when this book will be available in my country, especially since barely anyone here knows if kakapo is a bird, mamal, or some imaginary creature from one of them Potter-books. With this book, I could show it to my friends and family and tell them more about this peculiar favorite bird of mine. Not to mention that I’m dying to read it and find out more about the Spokebird of the most lovely owl-parrot I’ve ever seen. 😉
(And I think it would look just wonderful right next to my copy of “Last chance to see”.)
I’ve been in love with kakapo since the first time I read about them in
Douglas Adams “Last Chance to See”!! Going to NZ and actually getting to see you in person Sirocco would be the only thing better then getting a copy of this book!!
I would like a copy and I am mad about parrots 😉
The tale of Sirocco is wonderful and I would love my granddaughte r Alexa to hear it and develope a passion for conservation as I have.
Sirocco I would like to read about you. You are quite a hero and I would like to know how to emulate your success and good style. Keep going and teaching the world how great you and all New Zealand birds are!
Sirocco- you’re a great ambassador for NZ conservation. I am coming to see you soon and I’d love a claw printed copy of your book
I would like this book because I think that I probably have every other book about kakapo ever written and this would complete my collection (until someone writes a new one of course)! Also, kakapo are my favourite birds in the whole wide world – gotta love them big green budgies! 😀
What can I say? I would love to win and read this book to know more about this fascinating bird after I had two close encounter with him already in Steward Island and at Zealandia. I feel extremly fortunated that I had chances to see Sirocco! 🙂
Sirocco! You are remarkable, and a wonderful ambassador for your remarkable species. Your fellow kakapo have the best possible chance they could have at survival, because of you! And we share a birthday! BOOM to you, Sirocco!!
Because I love Sirocco & the story of the Kakapo first really got me into conservation!
Sirocco! You are remarkable, and an ambassador for your remarkable species. You have given your fellow kakapo the best chance at survival they could possible have. And you share the same birthday as me! BOOM to you, Sirocco!
I would like a copy, because Sirocco is my favorite Kakapo author.
I fell in love with the kakapo after the Carwardine incident. Unfortunately I live in Norway and will have to keep on saving a while before I can travel to NZ. It would be great if I could have a book to show my nieces and nephews and friends. Telling them about the wonderful green parrot 🙂
We are vitually blind to the list of plants and animals found in New Zealand. It is great to see DoC is fulfilling its role in making some inroads into this lack of information. As a pensioner I would think twice about buying a copy. But would truly appreciate a copy to form a core of books for my grandchildrens information. Thanks DoC.for this effort.
Gordon
Sirocco, you’re teaching me so much about NZ and its wildlife. I so wish I could meet you in person one day. Highly unlikely, I know. Even if I don’t win this book, I will definitively buy a copy. You and your kakapo mates are worth it. You’re the best Spokesbird ever! All the best from Germany!!!
Kakapo are my very favourite NZ native bird
And I Would love to own this book, for myself and grandy’s to come!
I’ve always been interested in the Lands Down Under ever since I can remember. Mum told me stories about her time in Australia, a few keeps me posted about her life in New Zealand, as they moved there a good 20 years ago. Animals are a major part of my life;l and thuthfully I get along better with animals than with people.
I’d love to win the book so I can discover the journey from chick to handsome lad and pass it on to my niece, she’s an animal friend like me. Would be interesting for her because she is interested in the unusual animals.
I would love a copy of your book Sirocco so that all my moko can learn about the rewards of caring for our friends who share the planet with us.
I would love this book, because I love Sirocco. I visited him when he was at Auckland Zoo a few years ago, he was so cute – eating his corn on the cob. Everyone needs to become more aware about the Kakapo and Sirocco is helping that to happen along with DOC.I am also Facebook friends with Sirocco and look at every thing he posts!
How exciting! I would LOVE so much to win this book for so many reasons! Mostly, because I would share it with my seven year old daughter who is a true animal lover and full fledged (pardon the pun!) conservationist already. This book would also be fantastic to take into her school to share your story with everyone. Thanks Sirocco!
I’d love to win the book, because what with me living in Germany, my chances are quite slim to experience the “real deal” and get to meet Sirocco in, uh, person/bird. So, the next best thing would be the book.
Skraark!
Here is wishing myself good luck… Keep on your campaign of good will my funny bird.
I like birds. And then parrots. So I also like kakapos but I don’t know many of them so I whant to learn more of them. That is why i like to get this book
And not before time. Good luck with the book sales and “go the mighty Kakapo”!
Crucial information on a cuddly, eccentric Parrot of the night. My favourite bird and my moko love them too.