Love is in the air in our kea
enclosure whilst our two new
kaka have created a bachelor
pad in the enclosure next
door.
This year we are thrilled to
have received breeding
recommendations for our
kea pair.
Although Matilda,
the female kea and Zeppelin,
the male kea, are both
mature kea that have not yet
been allowed to breed, we
are hopeful they will succeed
this season.
Zeppelin, who cannot
vocalize, is taking quite a
gentleman-like approach to
the matter and is spending a
great deal of time escorting
his partner around the
enclosure. Matilda, a very
vocal kea, is a bit more
determined to get on with
things!
As the conservation status of
kea was changed in
November last year to
nationally critical, it would
be great to have a breeding
pair at the Kiwi House.
In June we sent our kaka
pair up to Auckland Zoo for
flock mating. They will be
introduced together with
other kaka to enable them to
select mates.
In the mean time we have
received two males. ‘Toki’
arrived from Auckland Zoo
and is living up to his name
which means ‘axe’ or ‘to
chop’ in Maori. He has
managed to strip a number
of branches and logs put in
his enclosure for
enrichment. Toki is a rescue
bird who has been shot
through his wing.
This
certainly doesn’t seem to
slow him down.
Toki has been joined by
another male kaka from
Wellington Zoo. Rata is
particularly friendly and has
been known to land on
keepers’ shoulders. Together
these two bachelors have a
real potential for mischief so
work is underway to
complete a new double door
keeper’s entrance at the rear
of the kaka and kea aviaries.
Watch this space!