Tuateawa Bird Spot: Kaka.

To borrow an expression from Fred Dagg, " We don't know how lucky we are!" Kaka have become a regular feature of Tuateawa in recent times. In much of the N.I. of NZ they are a species in decline. In some areas, like Maungatautari, predator proof fences have been erected, at enormous capital cost, to provide a safe environment into which Kaka and other species can be introduced.

Prior to 1987 the Coromandel was not a welcoming place for Kaka. They were to be seen from time to time. They were probably visitors from Little Barrier.

That they are in Tuateawa now, as a resident population, is the result of large scale initiatives by D.O.C. over a number of years. Coordinated with this have been smaller scale local initiatives. There are small groups all over the Peninsula that, collectively pack quite a punch. As well as our local group we have the Moehau Ecology Group which is active in Tuateawa. In Kennedy's Bay there is a BNZ kiwi initiative.

Kaka have an enormous amount going for them. They can eat an huge range of food. Nectar and plant sap, grubs ripped from decaying trees and seeds and fruit from living trees and shrubs make for a very wide choice of food. They are not averse to Macrocarpa sap, enjoy orchard fruit and can be devastating to citrus plantations. Finding food is not their problem in our location. The one fatal weakness is that they nest deep in tree cavities, so there is no escape when a predator enters. A population in decline is characterised by generally quite old birds with an over representation of males.

In 1987/8 D.O.C. started the revival of kaka fortunes by aerially dropping 1080 on Moehau. Visiting kaka stayed and, in 1991 the first kaka chick was seen. It is believed that they spread from there, probably with a bit of help from Little Barrier birds, all down the Peninsula. They are now in a number of locations, even in Thames and the Hauraki Plains. The initiative that D.O.C. has adopted is known as "pulse management". Generally there is a period of intense predator control, over a vast area, and this might occur over three years. In this time target species are hit very hard and the protected species thrive. This is usually followed by as many as five years when the only controls will be from community groups.

D.O.C has had increases in its budget over recent years and it does an effective job with what it gets. Increases are unlikely to continue with the current recessionary problems. The kaka and other species may well have to manage with a little less protection for a while. Possum control in our area is currently being deferred for a year. Community input will become more critical. Again the availability of funding will be crucial in determining effectiveness.

One thing is certain. Kaka are part of the local entertainment. Not to hear the whistles and creaks of a mob of kaka as they charge crazily across the sky would be a sad loss. At times there are as many as nine birds performing. They are certainly Tuateawa residents. It would be great if we could confirm that they are also breeding here!

The images included are not from Tuateawa, They come from Stewart Is. where it is possible to call them down from the sky. Being able to hand feed wild kaka is quite an experience.