Orange parakeets, also known as kākāriki karaka, are little birds that live in New Zealand’s forests. The rare parakeet in the wild is only approximately seven to eight inches (19 to 22 centimeters) long and there are barely 100 to 300 birds.
However, the long-tailed bird with the purple curve and orange nose-band brought some good news this year. The New Zealand Department of Conservation states that the Parakeet is having its best breeding season in decades.
At least 150 chicks were born this year in the wild, which could double the population.
This season, the Conservation Department discovered 31 kākāriki karaka nests in Canterbury, which is more than three times the number found in previous years. The nesting season is likely to persist for several months.
The breeding boom was caused by a wealth of beech seeds, a common part of the Bird’s diet, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage said.
The beech mast of this year looks like the largest of more than 40 years, “says Sage, in a declaration.” This budget is an indigenous bird, a Taonga species for Ngāi Tahu, that is eating herbs and insects.
The parasites, which were treated by habitat destruction and predatory introduction were part of a recovery effort, which involves captive breeding and the control of predators.’
This season, the Conservation Department discovered 31 kākāriki karaka nests in Canterbury, which is more than three times the number found in previous years. The nesting season is likely to persist for several months.
When there’s no beech mast they typically just have one or both clutches.’ They were believed to be extinct before they were found in 1993 in Canterbury, reports the Conservation Department.