Rare kakariki parakeet seen in New Zealand

From Newswire in New Zealand:

Rare Red Crowned Kakariki In Nelson Sanctuary

12:14 pm, 20 May 2007

A native bird considered to be almost extinct from the South Island has been spotted at Nelson’s Brook Waimarama Sanctuary.

Volunteers helping with pest control at the wildlife sanctuary saw a red-crowned Kakariki or parakeet.

The chair of the sanctuary, David Butler, says the volunteers took several photos of the bird and sent them to him to identify.

Mr Butler says from the volunteers’ description he had expected to see a photo of the more common yellow-crowned kakariki, but was amazed to find it was the rare red crowned variety.

He says in many years of bird watching he has only seen one red-crowned kakariki, and that was 20 years ago.

Mr Butler says now the birds are pretty much gone from the mainland and only survive on pest-free offshore islands.

He says the find reinforces the value of places like the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary.

Dam threatens South Island nature in New Zealand: here.

Yellow-crowned kakariki released on Maungatautari Eco Island: here.