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Looking for food (we did not oblige it). Note that it is an unbanded individual, so therefore either quite young (I think they've given up on banding them all at Zealandia) or an immigrant.
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Looking for food (we did not oblige it). Note that it is an unbanded individual, so therefore either quite young (I think they've given up on banding them all at Zealandia) or an immigrant.
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Looking for food (we did not oblige it). Note that it is an unbanded individual, so therefore either quite young (I think they've given up on banding them all at Zealandia) or an immigrant.
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Typical chiseled bark striping by kaka looking for sap (Mahoe tree I think)
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Typical chiseled bark striping by kaka looking for sap (Mahoe tree I think)
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Family group; two banded adults (B-PP male & B-PW female), with three fledglings. All seem fairly fresh, mostly clinging onto trees. One was found at the base of another tree, and didn't move for two hours. Another attempted flight, but was more of a slowed descent with a lot of screeching - this one was able to climb however. Some investigation by the female of a nearby Hinua with a large hollow - possibly more chicks yet to fledge, as the she did enter tree at one point.
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Family group; two banded adults (B-PP male & B-PW female), with three fledglings. All seem fairly fresh, mostly clinging onto trees. One was found at the base of another tree, and didn't move for two hours. Another attempted flight, but was more of a slowed descent with a lot of screeching - this one was able to climb however. Some investigation by the female of a nearby Hinua with a large hollow - possibly more chicks yet to fledge, as the she did enter tree at one point.
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Family group; two banded adults (B-PP male & B-PW female), with three fledglings. All seem fairly fresh, mostly clinging onto trees. One was found at the base of another tree, and didn't move for two hours. Another attempted flight, but was more of a slowed descent with a lot of screeching - this one was able to climb however. Some investigation by the female of a nearby Hinua with a large hollow - possibly more chicks yet to fledge, as the she did enter tree at one point.
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Heavy bark stripping on an Avocado tree.
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Bark stripping chiseled line around Mahoe trunk.
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The presence of a single Kaka was noted daily in our garden and surrounds from 22 December 2014 -12 January 2015. It has reappeared as of today 18 January. Initially it flew and sat on the highest points of the tallest trees:cedar,pine,gums,totara,rimu,rata. Over time it became more familiar and I observed it feeding in a 2-3m pohutakawa at a distance of a couple of metres for 15-20 minutes.
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Seen alive at 7:40, then found an hour later, freshly predated. Suspected dog attack, as two off-leash dogs seen leaving the area 10 minutes earlier, and a indicative quantity of saliva found on the body. I suspect that the death was quick - injurys were primarily to the head. It appeared that the bird had recently fledged, but will describe the earlier observation seperately. The remains were taken for further photography (to add), and have been sent for post mortem at Wildbase (Massey University). Update; from Post Mortem report, accession no. 51626 DIAGNOSIS Severe, extensive musculoskeletal trauma COMMENTS This bird had multiple puncture wounds over the body as well as multiple bone fractures and the left eye had popped out and ruptured. Many of these injuries, especially to those around the head were associated with bruising indicating the bird was alive when these injuries occurred. Some of the injuries were not associated with bruising, a likely indication these injuries were inflicted soon after death. These injuries are most consistent with a dog attack, possibly by a dog on the smaller size; the bird has died from these injuries but it also appears the dog has further shaken the bird soon after death. Mustelids and cats may also attack the head area of birds, but the ruptured and proptosed eye and many of the other injuries are due to vigorous shaking of the bird, which is typical of a dog, not mustelids or cats.
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Seen alive at 7:40, then found an hour later, freshly predated. Suspected dog attack, as two off-leash dogs seen leaving the area 10 minutes earlier, and a indicative quantity of saliva found on the body. I suspect that the death was quick - injurys were primarily to the head. It appeared that the bird had recently fledged, but will describe the earlier observation seperately. The remains were taken for further photography (to add), and have been sent for post mortem at Wildbase (Massey University). Update; from Post Mortem report, accession no. 51626 DIAGNOSIS Severe, extensive musculoskeletal trauma COMMENTS This bird had multiple puncture wounds over the body as well as multiple bone fractures and the left eye had popped out and ruptured. Many of these injuries, especially to those around the head were associated with bruising indicating the bird was alive when these injuries occurred. Some of the injuries were not associated with bruising, a likely indication these injuries were inflicted soon after death. These injuries are most consistent with a dog attack, possibly by a dog on the smaller size; the bird has died from these injuries but it also appears the dog has further shaken the bird soon after death. Mustelids and cats may also attack the head area of birds, but the ruptured and proptosed eye and many of the other injuries are due to vigorous shaking of the bird, which is typical of a dog, not mustelids or cats.
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Seen alive at 7:40, then found an hour later, freshly predated. Suspected dog attack, as two off-leash dogs seen leaving the area 10 minutes earlier, and a indicative quantity of saliva found on the body. I suspect that the death was quick - injurys were primarily to the head. It appeared that the bird had recently fledged, but will describe the earlier observation seperately. The remains were taken for further photography (to add), and have been sent for post mortem at Wildbase (Massey University). Update; from Post Mortem report, accession no. 51626 DIAGNOSIS Severe, extensive musculoskeletal trauma COMMENTS This bird had multiple puncture wounds over the body as well as multiple bone fractures and the left eye had popped out and ruptured. Many of these injuries, especially to those around the head were associated with bruising indicating the bird was alive when these injuries occurred. Some of the injuries were not associated with bruising, a likely indication these injuries were inflicted soon after death. These injuries are most consistent with a dog attack, possibly by a dog on the smaller size; the bird has died from these injuries but it also appears the dog has further shaken the bird soon after death. Mustelids and cats may also attack the head area of birds, but the ruptured and proptosed eye and many of the other injuries are due to vigorous shaking of the bird, which is typical of a dog, not mustelids or cats.
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