Parrots Put On a Show in Burbank

While not unusual to be found in Southern California, parrots have congregated in a larger flock than Burbank residents have seen.

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Kakapo death sees population drop to 127

Another Kakapo for the museum. Image by The PingusThe death of another adult kakapo – the second this month – makes the opportunity for the public to see a live one on display this weekend even more special.

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Parrot count result: 400 Red-crowned Amazons in Monterrey

This amazing video was send to us this morning by Rene Valdes. Red-crowned Amazons (Amazona viridigenalis) have had a hard time in native Mexico and are in serious risk of extinction. In this video we see that, in Monterrey at least, there is hope for this species. The video was made during the efforts for the World Parrot Count 2012 and a total of 400 of this endangered species where counted. The last non-urban Red-crowend Amazons where last seen in 1945 in Nuevo León, the region of which Monterrey is the capital.

There are also significant urban populations of this species in California, Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Texas.  

Old age may have killed stud kakapo

RIP: Waynebo was found dead on Codfish Island.Old age probably killed Waynebo, the kakapo found dead on Codfish Island this month, the Conservation Department says.

Kakapo Recovery Programme manager Deirdre Vercoe said tests on his body had found no specific cause of death on January 2.

Although Waynebo had a small wound on his chest, the lack of inflammation suggested it had been inflicted after he was dead.

Found on Stewart Island in 1989 – making him one of the last discovered wild kakapo – Waynebo fathered 11 chicks during his time with the recovery programme.

"He was one of our stud birds," Ms Vercoe said. "He was a very good boomer and a strong breeder."

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Auckland Museum's coddled eggs

Land vertebrates curator Brian Gill with Auckland Museums first Kakapo egg shells for their collection. Photo: Kellie BlizardBrian Gill ushers us into a small room on the third floor of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. A long narrow table takes up most of the space.

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