Babies,babies, babies.

The kaka nest boxes  my buddy and I monitor are all full. Five young in one nest, three in another and six eggs recently laid in our last vacant box. Next week our ruru or morepork eggs should hatch as well. The kaka couple in our last box have proved tricky to identify but at last we have them sorted. They are a most loving couple. The male is very attentive, softly calling to his partner who is sitting on the nest. When she comes out he feeds her, and grooms her, giving her 'head noogies'. They are a pleasure to watch.

New-borns

bigger

One small, one medium, one large kaka baby. Photo: A.McPherson

True feathers are beginning to appear through the down on the bigger chicks.  Photo: A. McPherson

The first born kaka babies are getting ready to fledge so have been microchipped and banded, Alfie Kaka  ( https://www.facebook.com/AlfieKaka.Zealandia) tells me we have have just banded our 469th chick to be born at Zealandia which is amazing.

Almost ready to fledge.                              Photo: Lynn Freeman

Of course other residents are nesting as well. Kakariki nestlings are becoming ready to fledge and have been banded. It is a good chance to see them close up and marvel at their lovely colouring. They were introduced into the Valley about three years ago and have settled well. They are also on nearby offshore islands so will be able to intermix with these different populations. When settlers arrived in Wellington these beautiful little parakeets were so numerous they used their feathers to stuff their mattresses. Nowadays their numbers are so reduced they are rarely seen outside sanctuaries and offshore islands.

One kakariki..

two kakariki...

three kakariki...

four - no, five kakariki chicks!                     Photos sourced from Alfie Kaka's blog

Beautiful green and blue feathers are developing. Photos sourced from Alfie Kaka's blog.

baby kakariki


The kahruhiruhi  or pied shag babies have grown tremendously over the last month. There is now only one per nest and they are covered with a soft grey down. They are almost as big as their parents.

Mother and baby karuhiruhi

A couple of weeks later the baby is almost as big as Mum.

Common mallard parents and ducklings are everywhere, and though not native are fun to watch. They have less reserve in Zealandia and are almost under your feet at times.

Baby ducklings are everywhere

T2 and Puffin seem to be having a surge of spring energy as well. As I was coming back from kaka nest monitoring which had not gone well due to high winds and teeming rain I saw a staff member do a sideways screech to a halt as the takahe pair decided to amble in front of him. They had left their normal gazing patch near the feeders and had headed up across the main track and up into the bush. They chose to return by playing chicken with a bike. I continued on my way to the takahe gate and as I went through casually glanced behind to discover Mr T2 right on my heels. I had to ooze through the gate to keep him on his side, then kept watch as another staff member went through the vehicle gate on the four wheeled farm bike to ensure he did not sneak through then. He was definitely in a skittish mood and out to explore. I live in hope that they will produce a viable egg this season even though they have been unsuccessful for at least the last eight.

Feed me!

Contented babies with feathers starting to emerge.                                  Photo: A.McPherson

Losing down and growing feathers, our kaka chicks are doing well. Photo: A. McPherson