Friends of Rotoiti are involved with efforts to protect and enhance the kea population.
2021 Kea Chick News
Parent kea returning to the nest
The current season has been a successful one for two monitored nests in the St Arnaud Range area . All six chicks , three from each nest have fledged. For the full story please click here
Kea nest
Kea parent and chicks
Morehu - the only known surviving chick from 2020 kea breeding
Morehu
Kea guidelines from the Kea Conservation Trust - click here to download a pdf
Kaka
Friends of Rotoiti volunteers assist DOC in monitoring and assisting with kaka research and protection.
KAKA CHICK TRANSMITTER TRIP
2 January 2019
Friends of Rotoiti members Wayne Sowman and Peter Hale accompanied Jen Waite and Corey Mosen (DOC) and Ron Moorhouse (Wildlife Restoration Manager Project Janszoon) on a trip to attach radio transmitters to kaka chicks. This is part of ongoing kaka research at Nelson Lakes to investigate chick survival and dispersal patterns as well as to locate active and new nesting sites. It is intended to fit all trees with active nest sites with aluminium bands above and below the entrance hole to protect the chicks as well as the all-important nesting females.
To read the full report click here
On location at the nest tree , fitted with protective metal bands.
Heading to the back door of the nest
Fitting the leg band
Fitting the harness and transmitter
Chicks resting after having the harness fitted.
Ready for return to the nest