The endangered kakapo parrot could have a record breeding season
Associated Press News • • world
Key Points:
- The kakapo, the world’s only flightless parrot, has seen its population increase from 50 to over 200 in three decades due to intensive conservation efforts in New Zealand, with hopes for a record number of chicks this breeding season.
- These nocturnal birds breed infrequently, only every two to four years, triggered by abundant fruit crops from native rimu trees, making their reproduction cycle rare and unpredictable.
- Kakapo males attract females by booming calls from ground bowls, and recent conservation work includes incubating eggs indoors and livestreaming nests to monitor breeding success.
- The species faces ongoing threats from introduced predators and habitat loss, leading to their relocation to predator-free offshore islands and close genetic management to preserve diversity.
