Kākāpō ranger diary October 2009
Dana talks about captures
The sun shines again on Whenua Hou (well some days) and reminds us all that summer is on its way. It is just over a year since we started preparing for the last breeding season - things are certainly a lot more subdued on the island this time around!
Even though we are more relaxed (now that we predict no breeding in the coming season), last years chicks are still keeping us on our toes - making us explore the far reaches of the island where they seem to have taken up residence.
My first mission upon returning to Whenua Hou after our Annual General Meeting on the mainland, was to capture Chubbs (a provisional name), one of the chicks from this last season for his monthly health and weight check with Errol (a ranger), and Amelia (a feedout volunteer). We got a signal for him in what we thought was roughly the same place as he had been caught before - quite far down the coast. But Chubbs took us on an adventure far past this last spot, up and down ridges and guts, through creeks and mazes of supplejack until we finally caught up with him under a log, not too far from another track. So, if we had started at this track we would have caught him sooner, but not had such a "fun" journey reaching him!
But all was well and he is looking healthy and happy, as are all the other chicks from the last breeding season. We even have one chick, Moss (a provisional name) who was raised by his mum, recently reaching a weight of 2.6kg, which is getting up there with our adult males.
So all the blood, sweat and tears from the last year seem to have paid off as the 26 hand-raised chicks and the 7 mum-raised chicks are successfully fledged and looking after themselves just like they are meant to. They are exploring new home territories totally independent from any form of supplementary feeding and growing into the next generation of Kakapo that will take their species one step closer to a self-sufficient, increasing population.
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