NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 24, 29 January 1938, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

THE KAKAPO

A QUAINT N.Z. BIRD

(By R. H. D. Stidolph.)

Among the many remarkable birds peculiar to New Zealand the kakapo is certainl> one of the most notable. At one time it was fairly numerous in many parts of both islands, but, following on the settlement of the country and the introduction of animals and pests, it has disappeared from vast i areas and in other districts is now represented by mere remnants of its former numbers. Such being the case, the naturalist of today is almost denied the opportunity of making a first-hand acquaintance with this interesting bird, > which has been rather aptly referred to as an owl-parrot, and most of what is known about its habits has been ' recorded by those who were able to observe the bird in the early days, when it was abundant The onward march of civilisation has left a trail of devastation to animal and plant life in its wake, and it is not surprising that the kakapo, a flightless groundliving parrot, has been unable to adapt itself to the changed' conditions The face of the kakapo has a resemblance to that of an owl, having a facial disc, in which respect it differs from all other known parrots. In the soft texture of its plumage and in its nocturnal habits it shows further strong affinities to the owl tribe. VERI RARE IN NORTH ISLAND. The kakapo is a fairly large bird, about two feet in total length, though it varies considerably in size. It has a very beautiful ' plumage ot green varied with brown, yellowish-green, and yellowi-h-white. According to the Natives, :it was formerly a common' bird in many mountainous parts of the North Island, including, the Tararua Ranges. No specimen has ever been obtained from these mountains, however, and it must have. died out from these ranges, even before Europeans settled the country. It met a similar fate in the Urewera country, in which vast tracts of country still remain in their virgin state. All the same, it is still possible that this bird may linger in some remote district, where its presence could easily pass unnoticed. Another North Island haunt of the kakapo was or is the Kaimanawa Ranges, between Lake Taupo and the East Coast One or two specimens are said to have been,., procured in this region, and as these ranges are still.'to some extent in;their primeval state, it may still survive. In the South Island, the kakapo is more numerous and continues to' live, though in greatly reduced numbers,'in the more remote forest areas .'of the Nelson and Westland districts. FORMER GOVERNORS „ OBSERVATIONS. A former.Governor, of New Zealand, Sir George Grey, was well acquainted with the habits of the kakapo -During the day," he' wrote, "it remains .hidden in holes under the roots ol trees or rocks, or, very rarely, perched on the boughs of trees- with a very dense thick foliage. At these times it appears stupid from its profound sleep, and, if disturbed or taken from ' its hole, immediately runs and tries to i hide itself again, delighting, if practicable, to cover itself in a heap ol soft, dry grass. About sunsei it becomes lively animated, and playful, issues forth from its retreat, and feeds !on grass, weeds, Vegetables, fruit, seeds, and roots. When eating grass it grazes rather than feeds, nibbling the grass in the manner of a rabbit or wombat It sometimes climbs trees, i but generally remains upon the i ground, and.only uses its short wings : for the purpose of aiding its. progress when running, balancing itself when on a tree, or in making a short descent, i half-jump, half-flight, from an upper to a lower bough. When feeding.-if i pleased with the food, it makes a eonI tinual grunting noise. It is a greedy r bird, showing an evident relish' for anything of which it is. fond." I HAUNTS DESCRIBED, i Forty years ago, the late Mr. Richard ■ i Henry, who was custodian of Resolu- ! tion Island, in the West Coast Sounds I. district of the South Island, lived in 'the home of the kakapo. He had .unusual opportunities to study the bird and fortunately he recorded his obs servations. The male kakapo, tip \ stated, is able to swell up his "air-. I sac," of which the female has no trace, till it is nearly as big as his body. Mr. Henry described what he called dusting holes or bowers. On one particu- !■ larly high range, very steep and rough, | he found all along the top for half % mile a number of these bowers. They were eighteen inches in diameter, ' fairly level on the bottom, and three inches deep, with steep sides. In some the peaty earth was pressed down as if by the naked hand, while in others :■■ it was freshly raked up and loose. All : were connected with one another by i fresh, well-beaten pathways/ Mr. i- Henry surmised that the bowers were used for dancing or. parades in the ; courting holes. He stated that the voice of the female kakapo is a hoarse cough and may be heard for a couple of hundred yards only, but the boomins of the males may be heard for a couple of miles. He thought that it was likely that the males took up their places in the bowers, extended their air-sacs, an<* gave vent to their love songs, and that the, females were thus attracted to the locality. A HARD BIRD TO FIND. Though plenty ot kakapos could be heard in the' evening, Mr. Henry stated, it was never possible to ascertain where the birds were within a mile, as they did not keep on.calling long enough for, one to track thenx They started calling with a coupie of short grunts, and then uttered five or si-J deep measurea notes like the sound ot a muffled drum, the loudest In the middle. The male repeated this series about three times in the daylight and wa<= then silent: and other kakapos, perhaps a mile away, took up the sound On the ridge mentioned above, Mr Henry stated, he got quite close to a calling bird and could testify to the power of the note, as he felt its vibration. He thought the drummer wa- just at his feet, but it was ultimately found forty yards away hiding under a log. -Mir. ''Henry added: "I was always puzzled to know how it was that kakapos got so fat in the summer time; but now I find that they suck the honey out of the rata blossoms, like other bush birds, and as this honey is plentiful in the Sounds m December, it must form an important item to mix with their various other foods. On December 18. with the aid of a little glass syringe. I. gathered a teaspoonful of. this honey in ten minutes, so tt' must be easy for the kakapos to get as much of it as they want The little branches of the rats are very strong and are able to beaJ their weight." . ..