AbieNov 18
The #kakapo files are back!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/2019013077/return-of-the-kakapo-files
Return of the kakapo files!

This upcoming summer is likely to be the biggest ever kÄkÄpÅ breeding season, and RNZ will be following the twists and turns as they happen. The kÄkÄpÅ files with Alison Ballance return for a second season.

RNZ
Show threadAbieNov 18
Via https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3m5uiqtah6k2g
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

Stoked that the Kākāpō Files from Radio NZ will be back this summer. Follow to hear how this #kakapo breeding season - likely to be the biggest ever - unfolds! #conservation https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/2019013077/return-of-the-kakapo-files

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieNov 18
There exists 1 (one) houseproud kakapo lady :)
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3m5qbin5brc2a
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

Rakiura's nest tags. She had a cavity in the base of a big rata. #kakapo #conservation #birds #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieJan 3
THE SEASON HAS STARTED!!
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mbbinb5wo225
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

First mating of the 2026 #kakapo breeding season! True to form, it was Pearl and Boss on Whenua Hou, who mated on the night of 28th Dec. They were also the first two to mate in the last two breeding seasons. We're expecting a bumper year, so follow for updates! #conservation #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieJan 9
FIRST EGGS SPOTTED! #kakapo
https://newsletters.doc.govt.nz/t/i-e-zzulut-itiljymur-g/ #kakapo
Show threadAbieJan 9
And this means... the fridge door is back!
Show threadAbieJan 9
The "fridge door" was an actual freezer door used as a whiteboard in 2019!
https://xcancel.com/takapodigs/status/1105024127692206080
Show threadAbieJan 9
But the recovery went so well that by 2022 they needed a proper whiteboard :)
https://xcancel.com/takapodigs/status/1503603401426280452/
Show threadAbieJan 9
If I knew how odds worked I would place bets!
The rimu masting seems massive so maybe we can hope for 200+ eggs and ~80 living chicks?
This season will be more hands-off than 2019 or even 2022 (no incubating eggs artificially to push for a second clutch), so 200 is optimistic even with 80+ females. #kakapo
Show threadAbieJan 9
La seule AI qui compte ^-^
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mbvae3thpc2k
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

Yesterday we started #kakapo artificial insemination for the season. We do this to help maintain genetic diversity, with a potential additional benefit of improving fertility. We inseminated Esperance, who mated naturally a few nights ago. #conservation #parrots #birds

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieJan 14
Bully for Bluster-Murphy!
"Bluster-Murphy was named after the blustery night he hatched, and the vet who saved his life."
*https://www.facebook.com/KakapoRecovery/posts/make-sure-you-get-my-good-side-look-its-bluster-murphy-your-favourite-attack-sur/979494300881149/
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mcc5vk42fc2b #kakapo
Kākāpō Recovery

‘Make sure you get my good side!’ Look - it's Bluster-Murphy, your favourite attack survivor. It has been more than 15 years since Bluster-Murphy was attacked in the nest by an adult male kākāpō....

Show threadAbieJan 16
Fridge update!
#kakapo
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mchc4z2vi22b
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

#kakapo mating and fridge update: last night Rakiura + Komaru on Whenua Hou, and Yasmine + Ariki and Stella + Horton on Anchor. Two more matings the night before too, and something might be happening on Te Kākahu... #conservation #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieJan 16
How I know my laptop's loudspeakers have no bass: I can't hear the kakapo booming at all :(
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mcjlw6wy3c2p
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

Three more #kakapo matings last night: Tumeke + Te Atapo on Whenua Hou, and Kotahitanga mated with both Marama and Kohengi on Anchor. Mating with different males substantially increases the likelihood of clutch fertility: https://peerj.com/articles/14675/. Here's Te Atapo booming. #conservation #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieJan 19
I'm not alone in the #kakapo fandom :D
cc @jastrow
https://bsky.app/profile/jastrow75.bsky.social/post/3mcfn7r3zls2c
Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart (@jastrow75.bsky.social)

Mon kākāpō est arrivé 🤩 Il s’appelle Bluster-Murphy, Murphy pour les intimes

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieJan 21
Un article en français sur la saison des #kakapo :
https://www.sciencesetavenir.fr/animaux/oiseaux/nouvelle-zelande-le-kakapo-perroquet-en-danger-recommence-a-se-reproduire-apres-4-ans_190337
Show threadAbieJan 22
Douglas Adams on the kakapo, from a time there were only less than 50 individuals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZG8HBuDjgc
https://youtu.be/_ZG8HBuDjgc?t=1581
DOUGLAS ADAMS: Parrots, the Universe and Everything

YouTube
Show threadAbieJan 23
Fridge update!
24 eggs laid by 12 kakapo, 18 of which might be viable.
For now a total of 32 females have mated, so loads more are expected!
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3md34ym64xs2e
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

Fridge update! This is how we track #kakapo breeding on the islands. Disclaimer: on Anchor this year it’s on a whiteboard, as there are too many birds to fit on the fridge! #conservation #birds #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieJan 23
And the kakapo cam is back online!
Not much to see for now besides the egg.
Kakapo are nocturnal, so Rakiura will be feeding at night and incubating during the day (NZ time), so at night here in Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/live/BfGL7A2YgUY
Kākāpō Cam: Rakiura the kākāpō – 2026 nest

YouTube
Show threadAbieFeb 3
Fridge update: at least 43 developping eggs in 41 nests, and as many still to be candled!
The viability rate is >50%, quite encouraging.
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mdwwgqtvek2j #kakapo
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

The latest #kakapo breeding update, from the Anchor "fridge". #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieFeb 3
Ever better, over 3/4 of the Anchor Island eggs are fertile! (8/33)
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mdwyepxeik2j
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

Female #kakapo Kohengi on her three eggs on Pukenui/Anchor Island today. We don't yet know if they're fertile, but will investigate soon. So far fertility on Anchor is very high: only 8 infertile out of 33 checked. We expect many more infertile eggs though. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieFeb 4
Three more nests on Anchor Island :)
grand total, by my count : 63 nests (out of ~85 females)
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mdzi5dntt22c #kakapo
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

Female #kakapo Phoenix on her nest yesterday, with three eggs. We suspect they're infertile, but it's hard to tell yet as they're either very dirty or young. She's one of at least 24 female kākāpō on nests on Anchor Island, with 3 more nests found today! #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieFeb 10
A fridge update is waaaay overdue! Hope to see it soon.
In the meantime listen to the excellent Kakapo Files podcast: you'll learn that more than 150 eggs have already been laid in 48 nests, and at least 55 of them are developing!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/kakapo-files/season-2/nesting-time
Nesting Time episode of Kākāpō Files II

Almost 90% of adult female kākāpō of breeding age have mated so far this breeding season, and two thirds of those are nesting. Some birds have already laid a full clutch of eggs and while some clutches are 100% fertile, others are - as expected - unfortunately infertile. To date there are 55 fertile kākāpō eggs, and that number grows daily as kākāpō rangers find nests and are able to check the developing eggs. Alison Ballance checks in from Whenua Hou, where technical advisor Daryl Eason is nearing the end of the artificial insemination programme. He is excited that a ‘lost’ female has been found and wonders if she is also nesting.

RNZ
Show threadAbieFeb 10
#TIL Kakapo have two different plumage colour morphs! They can be green or olive, as depicted here, and researchers have even found the exact gene responsible!
The perks of working on the only species with a sequenced genome for every single living individual (and quite a few dead ones)...
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002755
Show threadAbieFeb 11
Un nid de #kakapo à 3 mètres de haut !
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mel2fooih22e
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

The flightless #kakapo usually nest underground. Yesterday we found the coolest nest I’ve ever seen: Whetu was 3m above ground in a hollow rata tree. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieFeb 11
At long last: Fridge update!
165 eggs laid in 58 nests, at least 81 of which are viable \o/
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mel3vssidk2q #kakapo
Show threadAbieFeb 13
That's not exactly how the biologists phrase it, but basically, yeah.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/13-02-2026/its-kakapo-fuck-season #kakapo
Good news: It’s kākāpō fuck season

The world is going to hell in a handbasket but at least the kākāpō are going hog wild.

The Spinoff
Show threadAbieFeb 13
Fridge update!
185 eggs laid in 61 nests, at least 86 of which are viable \o/
By my count 32 eggs are yet to be candled, so we're possibly approaching the psychological threshold of 100 fertile eggs!
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3meqenopzq224 #kakapo
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

Quick #kakapo “fridge” update, as things are changing fast. May contain errors! #kakapo2026 #birds #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieFeb 16
🎉The first #kakapo chick born in FOUR years hatched on Valentine's day! 🥳
It just looks like a dust bunny for now...
🎉 🎊 🎆
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mewtbdkto22g
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

The first #kakapo chick for four years hatched two days ago (on Valentine’s Day for those who like to anthropomorphise!). Here’s Tiwhiri-A1-2026 in Yasmine’s nest. 📸: Deidre Vercoe. https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/first-kakapo-chick-in-four-years-hatches-on-valentines-day/ #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots #birds

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieFeb 16

"Kākāpō cam is a great way for people to see conservation in real time and do their own little bit of naturing"

Word of the day: Naturing!
Natura Naturans, I guess...
https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/first-kakapo-chick-in-four-years-hatches-on-valentines-day/

First kākāpō chick in four years hatches on Valentine's Day

The first kākāpō chick of the breeding season has hatched on Pukenui Anchor Island.

Show threadAbieFeb 16
Aforementioned kakapo cam: incubation intensifies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfGL7A2YgUY
Kākāpō Cam: Rakiura the kākāpō – 2026 nest

YouTube
Show threadAbieFeb 17
A NEW CHICK HAS HATCHED!
#kakapo
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mf25glzt2c2b
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

The second #kakapo chick of the #kakapo2026 breeding season hatched this morning: Hine Taumai-A1-2026 on Ako's nest on Te Kākahu. We transferred the egg from Anchor two nights ago. This is Ako's first-ever chick, which is just a few hours old in this video. #conservation #birds #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieFeb 20
FRIDGE UPDATE
222 #kakapo eggs laid in 71 nests, at least 123 of which are viable, which us outstanding.
And NINE chicks have hatched already!
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mfaolfibm22i
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

#kakapo breeding "fridge" update. Good news: 9 chicks hatched, and 123 fertile eggs in total - including all three 4 year old females having fertile clutches! Bad news: a few egg deaths in the last couple of days. Kākāpō breeding seasons are a roller-coaster! #kakapo2026 📸: Lydia Uddstrom

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieFeb 20
The final tally of 2022 is already passed :)
(141 eggs/77 fertile/55 chicks)
This bodes well for (way?) more than 50 chicks!
https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2022-media-releases/bumper-breeding-season-boosts-kakapo-population/
Bumper breeding season boosts Kākāpō population

Kākāpō numbers have increased from 197 to 252 in the 2022 breeding season, and there are now more of the endangered parrots than there have been for almost 50 years.

Show threadAbieFeb 20
If the ratios hold (not a given, because there are low-maintenance sites this year), we could be cautiously hopeful for the kakapo population breaking the 300 mark this year!
Show threadAbieFeb 22
And TEN little kakapos hatched! And many more to come :)
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mfdrh2vd322i
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

The #kakapo chicks are coming thick and fast! We're now up to 10 hatched. Here are Tiwhiri-A1 and Tiwhiri-A2 receiving a health check at Yasmine's nest on Pukenui/Anchor Island. 📸: Lydia Uddstrom #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieFeb 22
If I was any good at coding, I'd make a site with just the count of adults, eggs and chicks
Show threadAbieFeb 24
A voxel #kakapo!
Via @atog
https://ko-fi.com/i/IC0C3YFBXM
Show threadAbieMar 1
Watch a cottonball come to life!
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mfy77l3zbk2g #kakapo
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

Checking on 1 day old #kakapo chick Waa-A3-2026 in Waa's nest on Pukenui/Anchor Island. We check the chicks twice in the first 4 days, and then less frequently as they get older. #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbieMar 3
11 days since the last fridge door update 🥺
Show threadAbieMar 5

#kakapo poetry to read with a kiwi accent for better results :)
"First we'll do six quick chick checks,
based upon each chick's peak sex specs.
Then I'll check each chick's tickers ticks,
You can check their slick liquids stocks."

https://bsky.app/profile/duncanjonesmerrion.bsky.social/post/3mgcmedtm7k2x

Duncan Jones (aka Merrion) (he/him) (@duncanjonesmerrion.bsky.social)

First we'll do six quick chick checks, based upon each chick's peak sex specs. Then I'll check each chick's tickers ticks, You can check their slick liquids stocks.

Bluesky Social
Show threadAbie
Mood
#kakapo
https://bsky.app/profile/digs.bsky.social/post/3mgjk5jjz7s2c
Andrew Digby (@digs.bsky.social)

You know that feeling when you're struggling to stay awake? #kakapo chicks Tiwhiri-A3 and Tiwhiri-A4 in Tiwhiri's nest on Pukenui/Anchor Island. Both around two weeks old, and doing well. #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots

Bluesky Social
Mar 8 at 12:50pmWeb
Show threadAbieMar 10
🚨 #Kakapo update! 🚨
78 nests
247 eggs laid
145 of them fertile
105 developping
At least *54* chicks hatched! 🥳🎉
https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/kakapo-files?share=fddab3ba-449c-4525-b912-20d1ca922d86
Kākāpō Files II podcast

Following the next breeding season of the world’s favourite parrot.

RNZ
Show threadAbieMar 10
Fridge update
https://www.reddit.com/r/kakapo/comments/1rnm0pz/fridge_update/
Show threadAbieMar 11
Welcome to the club, fellow #kakapo lovers!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/11/kakapo-cam-live-stream-parrot-new-zealand
‘My lovely distraction’: live stream of kākāpō – world’s fattest parrot – and her chicks captivates New Zealand

More than 100,000 people have tuned in to watch a kākāpō – a rare flightless bird – sleeping, tidying her nest and fighting off intruders

The Guardian
Show threadAbieMar 12
The #kakapo chicks are now sexed by PCR on site in only a few hours!
Sexing used to have to wait until the chicks were big enough to have blood drawn, then sent to the mainland for analysis.
Early sexing is useful to evaluate gain weight (faster in male chicks) but also to prioritize monitoring.
Show threadMarie et JulienMar 12
@temptoetiam why not just look at their bistouquette ?
Show threadAbieMar 12
@mariejulien mmm
Tu sais, l'hyper membrure du canard est un cas atypique chez les oiseaux... tu vois une biztouquette sur un poussin de poule,par exemple ?
Show threadAbieMar 12
@mariejulien le terme technique à gougler est, erm, "cloacal kiss".
Show threadMarie et JulienMar 12
@temptoetiam
Show threadAbie1d ago
#FridgeUpdate : A record number of 90 chicks have hatched!
That is more than one for each adult female on average, a remarkable number for the slow breeding #kakapo
For comparison, no previous breeding season, even the most heavily managed to induce second clutching, ever reached 60 live chicks!
And there are still a few more eggs waiting to hatch... (possiblly 8?)
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1392634052900503&set=pcb.1392658922898016
Show threadAbie1d ago

if you're curious, Rakiura is feeding her chick live atm!

Edit : Still feeding!
Edit 2 : the chick is full! It just wants to sleep despite Rakiura's attempts to sneak in a few more beakfuls :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfGL7A2YgUY #kakapo #kakapocam

Show threadAbie1d ago
<3
https://mastodon.art/@datGestruepp/116250498861057262
Show threadAbie1d ago
Soft rimu, but hard rock!
#kakapo
https://youtu.be/qahryZ-YgSA?is=ymTcUlMaYmi8FNlj
the most important video in your life

YouTube
Show threadPyanfar1d ago
@temptoetiam Thanks for sharing the Fridge door!
Show threadJan Katins1d ago
@temptoetiam I thought Rakiura had no fertile egg, at least the eggs which hatched / the chicks were from other mothers?