Cyanoramphus malherbi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malherbe's parakeet |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| At Isaac Peacock Springs wildlife refuge, New Zealand | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cyanoramphus
|
| Species: |
malherbi
|
The Malherbe's parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi) is a small parrot that lives only in New Zealand. It is also called the orange-fronted parakeet (Māori: kākāriki karaka). In New Zealand, people always call it the orange-fronted parakeet. This name is also used for a different bird from Central America.
This special bird lives in only a few valleys on the South Island and four islands off the coast. Sadly, its numbers dropped to about 200 birds in the 1990s. Because of this, it is now considered critically endangered. This means it is very close to disappearing forever.
Contents
What is a Malherbe's Parakeet?
How is the Malherbe's Parakeet Classified?
The Malherbe's parakeet belongs to a group of birds called Cyanoramphus. These birds are all native to New Zealand and the islands around it. Scientists believe their ancestors came from New Caledonia about 500,000 years ago.
For a long time, scientists debated if this bird was its own species. Some thought it was just a different color version of the similar yellow-crowned parakeet (C. auriceps). But in 2000, new genetic tests showed that Cyanoramphus malherbi is indeed a unique species. The New Zealand Department of Conservation now agrees with this.
What Does the Malherbe's Parakeet Look Like?
The Malherbe's parakeet is a medium-sized parrot, about 20 centimeters (8 inches) long. Its body is mostly a bright blue-green color. The feathers on the front edge of its wings are a beautiful azure blue.
A special orange band across its yellow head helps identify it. Young birds, however, do not have this orange band. Their heads are completely green. The orange band starts to appear when the bird is 2 to 5 weeks old. It also has orange patches on the sides of its lower back. Male birds tend to have brighter colors, while young birds look duller.
The only sure way to tell a grown orange-fronted parakeet from a yellow-crowned parakeet is by the color of its head band and rump.
Where Do Malherbe's Parakeets Live?
What is the Malherbe's Parakeet's Habitat?
This parakeet is found in only three areas on New Zealand's South Island. These are the South Branch Hurunui River valley, Hawdon River valley, and the Poulter valley.
In addition, there are four populations that were moved by people to new places. These are on Maud Island, Blumine Island, Chalky Island, and Mayor Island / Tuhua.
On the South Island, these parakeets mostly live in beech forests (Nothofagus/Fuscospora). They have also been seen in high mountain grasslands and open shrublands. On Maud Island, one study found that they prefer areas with lots of tree cover. However, they can use other habitats as their population grows.
How Do Malherbe's Parakeets Behave?
Parakeets are often seen looking for food, cleaning their feathers, or resting. They usually stay in the upper parts of the forest. But they also spend more time in lower areas compared to the yellow-crowned parakeet.
What Do Malherbe's Parakeets Eat?
The orange-fronted parakeet usually finds food in the tops of New Zealand beech trees. However, they will also look for food in low plants and on the ground. They are often seen feeding in groups with other bird species. They eat different seeds, beech flowers, buds, and small insects.
In spring, insects become a big part of their diet. This includes caterpillars, other moths, and aphids. They have been seen eating herbs and ferns on the ground. When beech trees produce a lot of seeds (called a "mast year"), these seeds become their main food.
The parakeets on Maud Island seem to eat differently from those on the mainland. They eat more types of plants and fewer insects.
How Do Malherbe's Parakeets Breed?
Orange-fronted parakeets stay with one partner. They can nest all year round, but they breed most often between December and April. They usually nest in natural holes or hollows in old beech trees. They especially like red beech trees (Fuscospora fusca). On Maud Island, they were found nesting in Pinus radiata forests.
They lay about 7 eggs. The eggs hatch after 21 to 26 days. Only the female bird sits on the eggs, and the male brings her food. The baby birds leave the nest when they are 43 to 71 days old. They still depend on their parents for 2 to 4 more weeks.
Their breeding is also connected to when beech trees produce a lot of seeds. When there is plenty of food, they can lay eggs more than once. Some pairs have even bred up to four times in a row!
Why is the Malherbe's Parakeet Endangered?
What is the Malherbe's Parakeet's Current Status?
The orange-fronted parakeet is in serious trouble. The New Zealand Department of Conservation listed it as Nationally Endangered in 2012. The IUCN calls it Critically Endangered.
In the 1800s, this bird was common all over New Zealand's South Island. They used to move around a lot to find food when there were many of them. But now, their numbers are so low, and their homes have changed, so they no longer do this. This makes it harder to help them spread to new areas.
Before 2000, there were hundreds of these parrots on the South Island. But by 2004, their numbers dropped sharply from 500–700 to only 100–200. This was mainly because of a big increase in rats and stoats, especially a rat "plague" in 2001.
The Hawdon River valley has the largest group, with 70–200 birds reported in 2013. But their numbers seem to be going down. The Poulter valley population also dropped in 2013, with about 40–80 birds. The South Branch Hurunui River valley has even fewer, only about 20–40 birds.
In 2013, the total world population was estimated to be between 290 and 690 birds. About 160–420 of these birds were on the islands where they had been moved. It's hard to count these parakeets because they are rare, quiet, and look very similar to yellow-crowned parakeets.
What are the Main Threats to Malherbe's Parakeets?
The first reasons for their decline were probably the loss of their forest homes, hunting, and predators that were brought to New Zealand. Hunting has stopped, and their homes are now protected. However, their homes are still broken up into smaller pieces, which continues to be a threat.
Orange-fronted parakeets grew up without land mammals around. This means they are very vulnerable to predators that humans brought to New Zealand. Their current decline is due to predators like stoats (Mustela erminea), rats (Rattus spp.), and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). These animals eat their eggs and baby birds. One group of parakeets was reduced by 85% in 2001 after a big increase in predators. This happened after a beech mast year, when there was a lot of food for predators. Deer and possums also harm the parakeets by destroying their forest homes.
Competition for food might also be a problem. Introduced birds, mice, wasps, and rats are eating many of the insects that the parakeets rely on in winter and spring. However, the parakeet can eat many different kinds of food. They might be able to find other food sources, as seen on Maud Island. This ability to eat different foods is good news for helping the species recover.
When small groups of animals breed together for a long time, it can lead to "inbreeding depression." This means they have less genetic diversity. This can make them weaker and less able to fight off threats and diseases.
The way orange-fronted parakeets nest also makes them very vulnerable. They nest in tree hollows with only one opening. This means:
- Female birds sitting on eggs might not be able to escape from predators and could be killed.
- Since only females sit on eggs, if many are killed, there might be too many males and not enough females.
- Their nesting period is quite long, which gives predators more time to find them.
- The baby birds tend to be noisy, which can attract predators.
Also, when forests are managed for wood, trees are cut down before they are old enough to have good nesting hollows. This reduces the number of safe nesting spots. Introduced starlings might also be competing with the parakeets for these nesting sites.
What is Being Done to Protect Malherbe's Parakeets?
Controlling predators is the main way to help this species recover. All three groups on the mainland are part of a program called "Operation Ark." This program controls stoat, possum, and rat populations. They focus on reducing the impact of predator outbreaks. These methods have worked for other New Zealand birds to reduce attacks by introduced mammals.
Individual nest sites are also protected using metal wraps around tree trunks. This has been very successful. Since 2003, only one out of 153 nests has been lost to predators.
Another important conservation effort is captive breeding programs. These are done at Peacock Springs by the Isaac Wildlife Trust. Birds are raised in captivity and then released onto islands that are free of predators. Before being released, the birds are placed in special cages in the forest to get used to their new home.
- A total of 45 birds were released on Chalky Island between 2005 and 2007. The population there grew to 150 birds in 2009 and 100–200 by 2011. However, it dropped to 50–150 birds in 2013.
- Sixty-eight birds were released on Maud Island between 2007 and 2009. But by 2013, the island's population was only 10–20 birds.
- Orange-fronted parakeets have also been moved to Mayor Island / Tuhua and Blumine Island. In 2013, their populations were estimated to be 50–150 and 50–100 birds, respectively. These two populations are not studied as much as those on Chalky Island and Maud Island.
Images for kids
-
At Isaac Peacock Springs wildlife refuge, New Zealand
Related pages
- Eupsittula canicularis, a species of bird in subfamily Arinae commonly known as the orange-fronted parakeet
See also
In Spanish: Perico maorí montano para niños
