Voice of the Kākāpō

An adventure through the bumpy bumper 2019 breeding season of NZ's rare flightless parrot.

Hosted and produced by Alison Ballance

A green illustration of a Kākāpō's head, side on. The text 'Voice of the Kākāpō' sits in the bottom right corner.

RNZ exclusive

This podcast is only available on the RNZ website and apps, ad‑free and uninterrupted.

Promise

Promise

Episode 4
Most of the female kākāpō have bred and the team is carrying precious fertile eggs to the 'egg room' for incubation. Meanwhile, on Anchor Island, the rain is falling.
Holding a torch against a kākāpō egg reveals a developing embryo.

Kākāpō sperm takes to the air

Episode 5
The tally of infertile eggs is climbing and the kākāpō team is using artificial insemination - and a drone - to try and counter the problem.
Andrew Digby with a kākāpō called Sinbad, who has important Fiordland genes.

Kākāpō chicks

Episode 6
The kākāpō eggs are hatching, and chicks are being hand-reared or returned to their mother's nest... but not every chick is thriving.
In the bumper 2019 kākāpō breeding season the first chick hatched in late January and the final chick hatched in late April.

Success

Episode 7
The 2019 kākāpō chicks are becoming independent and birds sent to be scanned for aspergillosis are getting clean bills of health.
Adult female kākāpō Hakatere.

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