This bird is as threatened as the black robin, but few New Zealanders know it

Monday, 8 January 2018

The orange-fronted parakeet is classified as nationally critical. Between 150 and 200 breeding adults remain.

They're as threatened as the black robin, and more at risk of extinction than any kiwi – but very few people know what the orange-fronted parakeet is. GED CANN looks at this forgotten species.

Once upon a time they were so numerous their feathers would be used to stuff pillows, and residents would shoot them off the roof of Canterbury Museum. Now there are only 150-200 adult orange-fronted parakeet left.

The beech masts which once fuelled this boom-and-bust species now encourage the rats and stoats that prey on them, which has led to DOC's prediction that the population will decline by up to 70 per cent within 10 years, or three generations, whichever is longest.

It's a bird found only in Canterbury and, according to Department of Conservation (DOC) recovery group leader Andrew Grant, it's on the brink of extinction.

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The reason its plight has gone unrealised for so long is an ongoing debate over whether it is genetically distinct from the similar, but larger, yellow-fronted parakeet, he says.

'This has actually affected its conservation effort, because if it was a colour-morph it wouldn't have the same priority as a species.'

Orange-fronted parakeet live mostly on predator-free islands or in beech-clad valleys near Arthur's Pass and Lake Sumner in Canterbury.

Twice in the past the New Zealand native was believed extinct. 'We rediscovered a population in the south branch of the Hurunui River in 1995, which had a lot of orange fronts there.'

Behavioural studies and genetic testing revealed the orange front to be a distinct species from its yellow brother, with whom it coexists.

A double mast year around 2000 threatened to wipe out the newly discovered population, as predators thrived on the extra seeds dropped by the trees.

Since 1995, attempts have been made to set up the birds on four predator-free islands, but three are believed to have failed, and nesting efforts have now been attempted on mainland habitats.

According to research from Lincoln University, 70 per cent of the public felt the state of the country's native plants, animals and fish was adequate or doing well last year, despite more than 900 native species approaching extinction, and another 2800 declining or at risk.

Research co-author Ross Cullen believes the misunderstanding is down to too much focus being placed on 'charismatic species' – such as tui and kiwi –on which conservation efforts and media coverage are concentrated.

A captive breeding regime for parakeets being conducted by the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust has helped maintain the genetic diversity of the species.