#kakapo breeding "fridge" update. Good news: 9 chicks hatched, and 123 fertile eggs in total - including all three 4 year old females having fertile clutches! Bad news: a few egg deaths in the last couple of days. Kākāpō breeding seasons are a roller-coaster! #kakapo2026 📸: Lydia Uddstrom

Female #kakapo Dusky on her nest on Te Kākahu/Chalky Island. We've just spent a few days on the island ensuring all 10 nests have at least one fertile egg. This is part of our trial to assess how well they can raise chicks without our help. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds #parrots

The second #kakapo chick of the #kakapo2026 breeding season hatched this morning: Hine Taumai-A1-2026 on Ako's nest on Te Kākahu. We transferred the egg from Anchor two nights ago. This is Ako's first-ever chick, which is just a few hours old in this video. #conservation #birds #parrots

On Te Kākahu/Chalky Island, our low-intensity trial site for #kakapo. Here trying to ensure each female has fertile eggs before we return in about two months to see how many have turned into chicks! Last night swapped these 4 infertiles in Aumaria’s for one fertile egg from Anchor. #conservation

The first #kakapo chick for four years hatched two days ago (on Valentine’s Day for those who like to anthropomorphise!). Here’s Tiwhiri-A1-2026 in Yasmine’s nest. 📸: Deidre Vercoe. www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-r... #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots #birds

Hi Auckland friends, I'll be in town and giving a couple of seminars this coming Thursday. Details below.

We trying to have most #kakapo chicks hatch in nests on Pukenui, so don't have many eggs in the incubators. But there are ~4 which we're incubating and will put in nests just before they hatch. The Anchor chicks are due to start hatching soon - watch this space! #kakapo2026 #conservation

Quick #kakapo “fridge” update, as things are changing fast. May contain errors! #kakapo2026 #birds #parrots

Today we found 6 year old #kakapo Madison and Verity on nests on Pukenui/Anchor Island. Madison had "lost" her three eggs down a hollow at the back of her nest. We retrieved them, but all were probably infertile. It's a good nest though, so she might get a foster chick later. #kakapo2026 #birds

Candling #kakapo Ongaonga's eggs during the day when we found her nest. This one was small and misshapen - as well as infertile. She's now one of four juveniles nesting on Pukenui/Anchor: Pakiki was found on a nest today. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Latest #kakapo breeding “fridge” update from Pukenui. #kakapo2026 #birds

Early this morning I candled #kakapo Hau's remaining three eggs in her nest on a very wet Pukenui/Anchor Island. All three were fertile, but one had the shell punctured from her standing on it. I took that back to the hut to be artificially incubated, leaving her with two. #kakapo2026 #conservation

The flightless #kakapo usually nest underground. Yesterday we found the coolest nest I’ve ever seen: Whetu was 3m above ground in a hollow rata tree. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Yesterday we found juvenile female #kakapo Ongaonga on a nest on Pukenui/Anchor Island. At just under 4 years old (her hatch day is 12th Feb), she's the youngest female ever recorded nesting. Today we also found Matilda nesting - she's just 2 days older. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Pukenui/Anchor Island looking moody recently. Male #kakapo boom to display to females from most of the high points in this picture, including the "track and bowl system" in the foreground. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Our #kakapo monitoring system reported a mortality signal for male Tiwai two days ago - triggered by the transmitter not moving for 24 hours. I followed up and was relieved to find a dropped transmitter next to his bowl, rather than a dead bird. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Occupational hazard of #kakapo fieldwork: try not to get knocked off the rocks by fur seals during boat drop offs! #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

We checked on #kakapo Flossie on her nest on Pukenui/Anchor yesterday, and found her on 3 eggs. We'll return later to determine if they're fertile. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

We found a 4th egg in #kakapo Waikawa's nest yesterday and found it was fertile. Waikawa has maintained her incredible 100% fertility record: 5 clutches of 4 fertile eggs in 4 breeding seasons. That's unmatched by any other kākāpō. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Three more #kakapo nests found on Pukenui/Anchor Island yesterday. Here's Konini with her two eggs. We have found nests for 26 out of the 36 adult females on the island, with more to come in the next few days. It's a big year! #conservation #kakapo2026 A

A #kakapo "bowl" on Pukenui/Anchor Island. Males dig these shallow holes at high points, with several clustered together in a "lek", and boom at night to attract females. Kākāpō are the only lek-breeding parrot. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Female #kakapo Phoenix on her nest yesterday, with three eggs. We suspect they're infertile, but it's hard to tell yet as they're either very dirty or young. She's one of at least 24 female kākāpō on nests on Anchor Island, with 3 more nests found today! #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots

Female #kakapo Kohengi on her three eggs on Pukenui/Anchor Island today. We don't yet know if they're fertile, but will investigate soon. So far fertility on Anchor is very high: only 8 infertile out of 33 checked. We expect many more infertile eggs though. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

The latest #kakapo breeding update, from the Anchor "fridge". #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds #parrots

Female #kakapo Atareta on her nest on Anchor two days ago. She has at least two eggs, which we'll "candle" to determine fertility in a few days' time, when the oldest is about 10 days old. The nest is huge, so it will be hard to access the eggs. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds #parrots

Checked on #kakapo Hine Taumai's nest yesterday, and surprised to find her sunbathing on her nest! Some nests are very open to the elements, so we often add waterproofing to ensure the chicks don't get too wet. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

A busy few days on Anchor Island for #kakapo2026. We candled 9 eggs yesterday, and all 9 were fertile! That's unusual as #kakapo infertility is usually very high. Here's Waa's nest this morning. #conservation

Working with #kakapo, this is the best thing you'll ever see. When "candling" an egg you hold your breath, hoping to see this: beautiful embryo development in a fertile egg. This is Tiwhiri's second egg, about 8 days old. About half of eggs are infertile. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Spent the night near #kakapo Tiwhiri’s nest on Anchor Island and checked it when she got off at 5am. Exciting to see 4 eggs. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Three more #kakapo nests found on Anchor Island in the last two days: JEM (2 eggs), Yasmine (1 egg) and Marama (photo; she was protective of her 2 eggs). There are now 11 females nesting on Anchor, 6 on Whenua Hou, and some (TBC) on Chalky. #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots

Two more #kakapo nests found on Anchor today: Waa on 3 eggs and Hauturu (pic) on 2. Also two matings last night: Anchor: Konini 💚 Quill Whenua Hou: Hera 💚 Tutoko #conservation #kakapo2026 #birds

Last week no living person had seen a #kakapo lay an egg. Now you can watch it on our webcam: Rakiura laid her second today (15:01 on 25/1/2025). She'll probably lay another in 3 days' time. #conservation #kakapo2026 #birds www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/kak...

Two more #kakapAo matings last night, both on Whenua Hou: - Bella 💚 Guapo - Titapu 💚 Te Atapo Here's Titapu as a chick ten years ago. #conservation #birds #parrots

Two more #kākāpō matings last night, both on Anchor: - Boomer 💚 Horton - Konini 💚 Quill Here's Boomer during the last breeding season. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds #parrots

Two more #kakapo nests found on Anchor today: Aparima, and Kuia (photo). 21 females have now mated on the island, with 6 nests known. #conservation #parrots #birds #kakapo2026

If anyone wants to see a livestream of a #kakapo on their nest, then Rakiura is back on her nest NOW. #kakapo2026 #conservation www.youtube.com/live/BfGL7A2...

Fridge update! This is how we track #kakapo breeding on the islands. Disclaimer: on Anchor this year it’s on a whiteboard, as there are too many birds to fit on the fridge! #conservation #birds #parrots

We've got a new #kakapo webcam! It's on Rakiura's nest on Whenua Hou. She laid an egg yesterday (we caught that on camera), but isn't incubating it yet. Follow to (hopefully) watch her lay more! #conservation #birds www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/kak...

Three #kakapo nests found on Anchor Island today! Here’s Waikawa, on two eggs. #conservation #birds #parrots

A new #kākāpō record: the youngest female to mate. Previously the youngest we'd recorded a female mating was just under 5 years old. Yesterday, Ongaonga (📸 as a chick) mated on Anchor, aged 3 years 10 months. It might be the first of many records broken in #kakapo2026. #conservation #birds

Many more #kakapo matings: WH: Pura + Gulliver, Nora + Tutoko, Tumeke + Gulliver Anchor: Kohengi + Tuterangi, JEM + Awhero, Phoenix + Jamieson, Ongaonga + Tuterangi, Galaxy + Ngatapa, Eva + Tamahou, Roha + Kokoto, Evohe + Henry Te Kākahu: Rimu + Jack Pic: Rimu #conservation #parrots

Two more #kakapo matings on Anchor: JEM 💚 Awhero Kohengi 💚 Tuterangi Currently at least 12 females have mated on Anchor, 10 on Whenua Hou, and probably 2 on Te Kahahu/Chalky. Plus 2 new nests: Marian on Anchor and Tohu on Whenua Hou. #conservation #parrots #kakapo2026 Here's Awhero.

More #kakapo matings - another from Whenua Hou, and Te Kākahu/Chalky Island is off the mark! That's particularly exciting, as it's our low-intensity management site. Whenua Hou: Tumeke 💚 Gulliver Te Kākahu: Rimu 💚 Jack #conservation #parrots A

Three more #kakapo matings last night: Whenua Hou: - Nora 💚 Tutoko - Pura 💚 Gulliver Anchor: - Toitiiti 💚 Deans Great to see genetically important Gulliver mating, and matriarch Nora starting - her first known nest was in 1981! Here she is on her 2019 nest. #conservation #parrots

A busy night of #kakapo breeding on Anchor last night: Gertrude 💚 Ariki JEM 💚 Waihopai Atatu 💚 Kokoto Kohengi 💚 Kotahitanga None on Whenua Hou. Here's JEM on her 2022 nest. #conservation #parrots #birds

Three more #kakapo matings last night: Tumeke + Te Atapo on Whenua Hou, and Kotahitanga mated with both Marama and Kohengi on Anchor. Mating with different males substantially increases the likelihood of clutch fertility: peerj.com/articles/146.... Here's Te Atapo booming. #conservation #parrots

Bumped into 27 year old male #kakapo Sinbad today. He's of Fiordland descent so has important genetics, but he hasn't been a very successful breeder so far - probably because he's partially imprinted. He's in great condition this year. #conservation #parrots #birds

#kakapo mating and fridge update: last night Rakiura + Komaru on Whenua Hou, and Yasmine + Ariki and Stella + Horton on Anchor. Two more matings the night before too, and something might be happening on Te Kākahu... #conservation #parrots

More #kakapo matings: Heather and Bluster-Murphy on Whenua Hou yesterday morning, and Kuia and Tamahou on Anchor this morning. Here's Kuia on her nest in 2019. She's of Fiordland descent, so has valuable genetics. #conservation #parrots #birds

More #kakapo matings! Three nights ago Huhu (pictured) and Hondy mated on Whenua Hou, and last night Anchor mating started, with Hine Taumai and Henry. #conservation #parrots #birds #kakapo2026