Parrots' return to Raoul Island 'a conservation first'

The return of red-crowned parakeets or kakariki to Raoul Island after 150 years is sparking hopes of similar success stories closer to home.

The noisy birds were once common on the remote island about 1000 kilometres north of New Zealand but fled after settlers in the 1800s brought pests such as rats, cats and goats.

Now the pests have been eradicated and kakariki are back.

Massey University researchers studying the birds' spontaneous return say it is "a conservation first".

"The exercise could be repeated on predator-free islands closer to New Zealand," Massey conservation biologist and PhD researcher Luis Ortiz-Catedral said.

A study, just published in Britain's Conservation Evidence journal, revealed how kakariki spontaneously migrated to Raoul from neighbouring islands after pests were wiped out.

"The natural recolonisation of parakeets ... from a satellite source population is a first for parrot conservation and the first colonisation of a parrot species after removal of invasive predators," Mr Ortiz-Catedral and Associate Professor Dianne Brunton wrote.

Between 2002 and 2004 the Conservation Department carried out a $1 million pest eradication project, targeting cats and rats.

"Soon after that kakariki are thought to have flown from the nearby Herald Islets island group, about four kilometres away."

In April, researchers visited Raoul Island on the navy frigate Canterbury.

"They were astounded to observe a flourishing population of the colourful parakeets so soon after the eradication of pests," Mr Ortiz-Catedral said. What was witnessed at Raoul Island could also happen on New Zealand's offshore islands and other places worldwide where parrot species in particular were under threat. "It's very exciting."

Conservation Department programme manager Karen Baird said the return of kakariki was a tremendous success.

Similar results could occur closer to New Zealand, as long as a source population was nearby, she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News