Endangered kakapo parrot population reaches 325 in New Zealand after record baby boom

There’s been a baby boom among one of the world’s most endangered parrot species — and officials in New Zealand are squawking about it.

A record 90 chicks have been added to the count of the endangered kakapo parrot, bringing the population to a record 325 birds, the New Zealand Conservation Department said in a statement Tuesday.

The fledglings of the bird, which is native to New Zealand, were bred this year. The youngest is now 150 days old, a milestone at which the baby birds are considered independent enough to be added to the tally.

And every bird counts.

The green parrots do not fly and have a waddling gait, making them an easy target for ground predators. The kakapo is also the heaviest parrot species, with males weighing up to 9 pounds.

The bright birds, with finely blotched yellow-green plumage and large gray beaks, are also thought to be among the longest‑living bird species, reaching 60–90 years, the statement from the department said.

The nocturnal parrots with their owl-like faces remain critically endangered, conservationists say.

“There is still a long road of recovery ahead, but ninety chicks in a single season is a record. In the early years of recovery, it took 16 years to produce that many chicks,” said Deidre Vercoe, manager of the department’s kakapo recovery operations.

“We had a four-year gap between breeding seasons, so it’s fantastic to finally see the population increase,” she said in a statement. “It’s also a significant milestone for the species, as the last time the population is thought to have exceeded 300 birds may have been as long as 75 years ago.”

The Kakapo Recovery Programme began in 1995 with a population of just 51 birds, including only 20 females. Since then, the species has been through 13 breeding seasons, with recovery efforts working to overcome challenges associated with low genetic diversity, including infertility and poor hatching success. The successful season also highlights the importance of creating more predator-free habitats for the species.

Each kakapo in the program is fitted with a small backpack radio transmitter to help track its location and monitor its activity levels, conservationists say.