Threats to orange-fronted parakeet
Predators are the main reason these birds have declined in number. Introduced mammals like stoats and rats are excellent hunters both on the ground and in trees and exploit the fact that parakeets nest and roost in tree holes. Females, chicks and eggs are especially at risk. Large numbers of stoats and rats in beech forests cause huge losses to parakeets.
Vast areas of native forest have been felled or burnt off by humans, decreasing the area available for parakeets. This habitat loss adds to their decline, with possums and stock adding to the problem by browsing on plants and changing the forest structure.
1080 poison helps native parakeets
1080 poison is used to protect birds in New Zealand and to maintain the health of forest ecosystems.
This video shows that in the Maruia Valley nine parakeet nests the Maruia Valley nine parakeet nests were monitored though a 1080 operation designed to suppress a rat plague in November 2009. One nest was eaten by either a rat or a stoat the other eight were fine.
In places where 1080 has not been used to stop rat plagues, entire populations of parakeets have been destroyed by predators.
Video by Trakabat
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