1973 days ago

Success in breeding kākāriki karaka

Reporter Community News

One of New Zealand's rarest and most endangered birds has been successfully bred at the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, near Masterton.

Orange-fronted parakeets (kākāriki karaka) were declared extinct twice in 1919 and 1965. Today their wild population number is just 100-300 individuals.

Successful hand-rearing of orange-fronted parakeets is considered extremely unlikely but Pūkaha had very little choice. The five chicks hatched in early August from one of the centre’s two breeding pairs, a male called Karaka and a female called Pōra. Not wanting to disturb the nest, it wasn’t until two weeks of age that rangers noticed that the feathers on the chicks were not developing. A closer inspection revealed that the chicks were bald and that their feathers had been plucked by their parents. Immediate intervention was required because the chicks were at imminent danger of dying from the cold. The only option for the parakeets’ survival was an attempt at hand-rearing.

The young chicks were immediately placed in brooders with heat lamps and fed a diet of parrot rearing formula. It took about three weeks for the chicks to get their feathers. Some six weeks later, all five chicks are fully grown, flying, and eating by themselves.

More messages from your neighbours
2 days ago

Landscape Builders

Joseph from Jmurphybuilding

Hi Neighbors,

Just wanting to share a recent project we have completed for a really nice retired couple at Paraparaumu Beach. What made this project unique is that a lot of recycled materials were incorporated into the project, which kept in touch with the homeowners’ vision. We worked with them to create a tailor-made plan, and the results were amazing. We were grateful to be a part of this process.

Some highlights:

Custom bamboo planter box with inbuilt seats, creating a uniform structure with the deck. This is a lovely large structure which we are excited to see evolve as it gets planted out.

Custom garden shed built to meet the requirements of the high-wind/sea zone, but also clad with recycled palings. This was purposed as a planting and propagating shed, with polycarbonate roofing to allow natural light to enter.

Bamboo deck and stairs leading into another planting zone, Linking the back Area to the front.

We are qualified builders who love landscaping. We can offer decking, digger services, concrete, fencing, planters, and more. If you have a project we could help you with, please get in touch.

Thanks,

Joe
021 081 12603

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13 hours ago

Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?

What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?

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If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
  • 31.2% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
    31.2% Complete
  • 68.8% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
    68.8% Complete
186 votes
G
21 hours ago

THE WAIKANAE BEACH MONTHLY COMMUNITY MARKET IS ON THIS SUNDAY

Gary from Waikanae

WHERE:- Waikanae Beach Community Hall,
22 Rauparaha Street, Waikanae Beach,

WHEN:- Sunday 8 March 10am-1pm

Enjoy a Sunday outing with your family and friends by visiting this great friendly community market where you will discover handmade treasures and local creativity by highly talented stallholders where every piece tells a story.


FOR THE KIDS:-
Bring the kids along so they can meet jane with her quality handmade crochet toys, along with Helen and her huge range of awesome handmade children's dress ups and dolls clothes etc and Viv Walker a local author of Children's Books and an accomplished creator of Pet Portraits.

NEW STALLHOLDERS:-
BioGro Certified organic apples from Applejack Orchard in Te Horo. Their apples are tree ripened, and picked and bagged the day before they sell them! They are audited annually by BioGro New Zealand, and their certificate will be on display.


DISCOVER UNIQUE AND QUALITY ITEMS:-
You will find a huge variety of high-quality, reasonably priced gift ideas along with locally produced honey beeswax, Oils & Sauces, Fresh Flowers and Organic Apples.


MEET UP WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY:-
Meet up with a friend or 2 and enjoy a Sunday outing at this great Community event.

Don't miss it... support local!