Exciting updates from New Zealand’s Department of Conservation reveal positive signs for Kea in Wairau/Rainbow Valley. With three chicks already hatched and no signs of predators, this breeding season is off to a strong start for these Endangered alpine parrots.
Thanks to a targeted1080 predator control operation prior to the breeding season, there is zero signs of feral cats, rats, and stoats so far, giving Kea nests a much-needed chance to thrive.
Melissa Griffin, Senior Biodiversity Ranger for Nelson Lakes, shares: “For kea populations to recover, protecting both adult kea and their nests is essential.”
The World Parrot Trust, alongside partners like the New Zealand Parrot Trust and Kea Conservation Trust, has been instrumental in providing funding for traps and monitoring equipment to safeguard nests over the past three seasons.
We are proud to support these on ground efforts and helping ensure Kea can continue to raise their chicks in safety. With ongoing collaboration and increased predator control, we are hopeful that Kea populations will recover and grow in the years ahead.
