Archives For parrots

For the first time ever, you can watch kākāpō nesting activity streaming live from remote Whenua Hou/Codfish Island.

Our photo of the week shows foster mother Esperance caring for a chick but, if you head over to the Kākāpō Recovery website, you can see streaming real time footage of the pair.

Kakapo foster mother Esperance caring for a chick on remote Whenua Hou / Codfish Island.

Nestcam footage will stream 24 hours a day, however the activity will occur during the New Zealand night time, because kākāpō are nocturnal parrots.

A big shout out to:

Telecom NZ who supplied most of the technology:

“Because so much of the recovery programme takes place in the wild, on remote and protected islands, kākāpō nesting has to-date been limited to a very small audience. We’re delighted to have the connectivity in this remote location, and to contribute the technology needed to enable this precious event to be shared live with the world,” Andrew Pirie, Telecom General Manager Corporate Relations.

New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd (NZAS) as major sponsor of Kākāpō Recovery NZAS has contributed significant financial support, while its employees assist with operational support.

“Our staff at NZAS have loved working in partnership with the Recovery team during the past 24 years, helping out on the island with maintenance, supplementary feedout and nest minding. It’s great that the team can now share part of that special kākāpō experience with the rest of New Zealand,” NZAS general manager Gretta Stephens.

Forest and Bird who administer the trust account that external donations and sponsorship money are made to. This ensures supporters can be sure all financial contributions to the programme go directly to Kākāpō Recovery.

There’s nothing quite like a kākāpō to make you smile…

“It seems that not only has the kākāpō  forgotten how to fly, but it has forgotten that it has forgotten how to fly. Apparently a seriously worried kākāpō will sometimes run up a tree and jump out of it, whereupon it flies like a brick and lands in a graceless heap on the ground.” ~ Douglas Adams

Have a terrific Thursday!

Image source: thorinflowershield.tumblr.com

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.