Strange birds ~ the Kakapo

[kambriel]

"Strangely, not only has it forgotten how to fly, it also seems to have forgotten that it has forgotten how to fly. Legend has it that a seriously worried kakapo will sometimes run up a tree and jump out of it, whereupon it flies like a brick and lands in a graceless heap on the ground."

Not sure if it's airing everywhere in the US since I didn't see it on the PBS listings, but locally they're running this show on Kakapos tonight: http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchancetosee/sites/animals/kakapo

It's suspected the Kakapo has a life expectancy of around 90 years! Unfortunately, there are only about 91 of of them left in the world at this point... Here's hoping we can maintain a safe and nurturing environment for them so they can hang on and their unique charm will never be lost to this world.

You can learn more about these intriguing birds here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Kakapo



~ Kambriel

[Kambriel.com ~ Etsy ~ Bluesky]

Comments

[panzerkunst.livejournal.com]

Douglas Adams wrote about these in "Last Chance to See," pretty funny at times.

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

"Last Chance to See: Kakapo", hosted by Stephen Fry aired here tonight (http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchancetosee/sites/animals/kakapo). We actually just got done watching it, which indeed included some rather robust laughter at times. I was glad to have stumbled upon it!

[panzerkunst.livejournal.com]

Derp, you wrote it up there and somehow I didn't see it! Time for bed.

[arinye.livejournal.com]

~hee!~ That quote is hilarious! I love kakapos, they're such charmingly daft little things.

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I hope they make it and we can maintain conditions for them to thrive over the long term ~ the world needs more of their particularly charming brand of daft :)

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, kakapos behave inappropriately (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A7uFSbRJ5w). (Warning: Tsephen Fry commentary about kakapo naughtiness.)

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I just knew that clip would make it to YouTube! My theory is it's all about the low to the ground, hunched posture, and most importantly... the Green Sweater ;)

[verlise.livejournal.com]

They have a series called The Life of Birds with Sir David Attenborough on Net Flicks. He does a segment on the kakapo. I played it for my two cockatials and told them that they were lucky that they could fly. :)

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I've watched that on PBS before... one of my favourites from that series is the bower birds and their impeccable nest building/decorating/architectural skills.

Lucky cockatiels indeed :)

[the-magdalene.livejournal.com]

This is my home :P All the birds here are a bit crazy

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I thought of you while watching it ~ especially since I remember you posting about trekking/volunteering in endangered bird habitats some time back. The landscape of certain areas in NZ is pretty much perfection as far as I'm concerned... would love to see it first-hand someday.

The first part of the show actually focused on the indigenous black robins :)

[the-magdalene.livejournal.com]

ahhhhh robins <3
I've been doing more bird conservation work this year. I was nest watching a kokako nest last month; tracking the parents, feeding times etc. The chick from the nest has successfully fledged and the family are now out in the forest. They are so beautiful and quite large friendly birds that would walk right past me on their way to and from the nest http://www.kokakorecovery.org.nz/kokako/images/Closeup.jpg
This is where I volunteer, its a big area of native rainforest that is 20 minutes drive out of the city in the Waitakere ranges http://www.arkinthepark.org.nz/