2. Beginning the Save
Richard Henry was born in Ireland and emigrated to Australia. He
grew up with aboriginal people who taught him to be an expert
bushman. When he was twenty-nine he moved to New Zealand.
3. Kakapo facts
Making
a nest.
selects a
nest site
Finds
dry
wood
Shreds
the
wood
Makes a
deep
layer of
the
wood
Shapes
the nest
out of
the
wood
Did you know:
• kakapos breed only once
every 2-4 years
• female kakapos are solo
mothers raising chicks on
their own without any help
from the male
• the female selects a nest
site, usually a cavity inside
a rotten tree or under a
rock and then prepares a
soft, deep layer of litter by
chewing and shredding
dry wood
• the female lays 1-4 small
white eggs about the size
of pigeon’s eggs which she
then incubates for 30 days
4. Richard Henry’s Life
Early days
Over the years Richard Henry
was trying to save the kakapos, he
built up a good picture of their
habitats, diet and most
importantly their breeding habits
for native wild birds and also the
Kakapo. Richard was a fond
conservationist . Henry was asked
to catch the endangered birds and
watch over them. He moved to
the Sound and built a modest hut
within rowing distance of the
island.
Later days
Then in March 1900 disaster
struck. A stoat was seen on
Resolution Island. Richard Henry
was very distressed but
determined to wipe out these
predators. A task that took six
long years. Sadly most of the
kakapos didn’t survive. Richards
life work was all but destroyed.
Richard Henry died in 1929 age of
84. only the post master at his
funeral.
5. kakapo facts
• Birds that fly have strong
feathers to help them stay
airborne but because
kakapos don’t fly their
feathers are very soft. Like
most birds, kakapos oil
their feathers to keep them
waterproof , and even on
very wet days their
feathers will be dry.
• Kakapos hide themselves
during the day to avoid
predators . Kakapos hiding
places may include a
crook in some tree-top
branches, the middle of a
low bush or under a log.
• Kakapos eat a wide range
of vegetation, from small
plants to big trees. They
particularly like soft new
leaves and tree roots .
6. Kakapos lives
The kakapo is the heaviest parrot in the world
Before the arrival of the humans, dogs and cats kakapos were widely
spread throughout the country but now their population is less than
100 birds.
Kakapos weigh 2-2.5 kg and are 63cms tall. Kakapos live up to 30-40
years
Skrarking is a sound often made by wild kakapos. They usually
skrark as they come out of their hiding place each evening to let the
other birds know of their presence.
The beginning of the moult coincides with the time when their weight
is at it’s lowest ebb for the year.
