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• Published date: 24 November 2022
• Publication title: Central Otago News

The kaka was first spotted around Roxburgh three months ago and late last month took up residence in a kowhai tree in Joyce Mooney’s garden

Mrs Mooney said the kaka had made itself at home in a kowhai tree, attracted by apple and sugar water left nearby for tui and bellbirds by her neighbour Alice.

‘‘It doesn’t really go away for anyone apart from when it rains, then it goes to the walnut tree,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s spent lots of time sitting on the dog kennel [under the tree] drinking the sugar water and apple.’’

It was also partial to the kowhai tree’s nectar — one evening, Mrs Mooney and her husband Keith heard a large thump and went outside to find the kaka lying on top of the dog kennel, she said.

Department of Conservation technical adviser ecology Bruce McKinlay said South Island kaka are found in some forested sites the West Coast from the Nelson region to Fiordland, on offshore islands including Stuart Island, and in the Orokonui Ecosanctuary near Dunedin.

They typically lived in the forest and needed large areas of native forest for populations to survive, he said.

‘‘While...