The rare flightless Kakapo parrot found only on small islands near Stewart Island, New Zealand. Apparently this bad behaviour has been passed on to other male parrots on the island and now there is a plan to move the "naughty" males to a remote part of the mainland North Island.
Kākāpō are nocturnal and while the night owls enjoy after-dark action, they prefer the company of their own species and are scared of humans. Therefore it would be unlikely the public would be able to see the birds if they were sent to the mainland.
However people would definitely be able to hear the parrots’ distinctive boom which Moorhouse says is like a person blowing loudly over a glass bottle.
This year is the 20th year of the kākāpō recovery programme in New Zealand, and rangers are hoping for up to 19 nests on Codfish Island this breeding season. They also hope the birds on Anchor Island will breed for the first time.
Kākāpō can lay two or three eggs and DOC spends about NZ$700,000 a year ensuring safe incubation and hatching of the new chicks.
The 2009 breeding season was the most successful on record and marked the safe arrival of the 100th kākāpō - one of 33 chicks hatched that season.
There were only 51 known kākāpō in 1995 but today, thanks to extensive conservation efforts by a dedicated team, the number has risen to 122.- Tourism New Zealand
