Five an 'awesome' boost to kakapo pop

TOTALLY AWESOME: The births of five baby kakapo on Codfish Island has boosted the endangered birds numbers to 91.

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New Zealand's endangered green parrot, the kakapo, has received a much needed population boost following the birth of five chicks at Whenua Hou/Codfish Island.

In the last two weeks, five kakapo chicks have hatched with another two due to arrive in the coming fortnight.

While seven may seem a meagre birth-rate, it's big news for a bird that has battled back from the brink of extinction.

The births are the culmination of an extensive recovery programme launched by the Conservation Department, after research expeditions discovered that numbers had slumped to 51 kakapo in 1995.

Kakapo recovery team leader Emma Neill said "boosting the population from 86 to 91 is awesome especially considering these birds only breed every few years".

The other good news for the flightless bird is that this year there was 100 percent fertility of the kakapo eggs.

"In the last breeding season in 2005, the overall fertility rate was just 58 percent, and because not every egg results in a hatching and not every hatching results in a healthy chick, we are doing all we can to improve survival rates," Ms Neill said.

Meanwhile, at Whenua Hou - off Stewart Island - it's all hands on deck, as DOC staff and volunteers work around the clock to give the chicks the best chance of survival.

To ensure the chicks are kept healthy volunteers keep a nightly vigil; camping near the nest to ensure the female incubates properly and occasionally covering the eggs with a heat-pad if the mother leaves, to ensure they don't go cold.

Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick said the new arrival of kakapo chicks reflected New Zealand's international reputation in species conservation programmes.

"We should take pride in the fact that our efforts with kakapo are recognised worldwide."

- © Fairfax NZ News