Justification This charismatic species is believed to be declining because of predation by, and competition with, various introduced mammals. It is widely acknowledged that it is very hard to accurately estimate its population size. However, some estimates indicate that the overall population could be small. For these reasons it is listed as Vulnerable. Now that a montoring method has been devised it is hoped that current trend and population estimates can be improved upon.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Gould, 1856

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Turbott (1990)

Identification 48 cm. Inquisitive alpine parrot. Olive-green with scarlet underwings and rump. Dark-edged feathers. Dark brown bill, cere, iris, legs and feet. Male has longer bill. Juvenile has yellow cere, eye-ring and on bill. Similar spp. Kaka N. meridionalis is a lowland species, smaller, darker with crimson underparts. Voice Loud keee-aa.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

5,000

decreasing

63,300 km²

Yes

Range & population Nestor notabilis occurs in Marlborough and from Nelson to Fiordland on South Island, New Zealand. The population is a fraction of what it once was. Estimates are: 1,000-5,000¹; c.15,000²; and 5,000 individuals^4,5. One study illustrated an apparent decrease in numbers over 30 years in one site⁶, although numbers in the St Arnaud range in the north of the South Island remained stable during the period 1992-1999⁷.

Ecology: It mostly inhabits high-altitude forest and alpine basins, although birds will often frequent lowland flats. It mostly feeds on berries and shoots, although many have adapted to feeding at refuse dumps and ski-fields. It nests in holes, under logs or in rocky crevasses. It usually lays four eggs. Males feed the females during incubation and after hatching. Birds breed after three or more years. The oldest recorded bird was over 20 years of age⁴.

Threats Up until its protection in 1970, over 150,000 were shot in a bounty scheme, established because rogue individuals were found to be attacking sheep as a source of fat. Introduced mammals such as stoat Mustela erminea, cats and brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula have spread into most of the species's range, but the extent of predation is unknown, although it may be significant^5,6, and likely to increase in areas where possums have only recently colonised⁷. T. vulpecula, thar Hemitragus jemlahicus, red deer Cervus elaphus, hare Lepus europaeus, chamois Rupicapra rupicapra and pastoral farming practices may also be depleting crucial winter foods^3,6. Farmers kill an unknown number of birds each year. It is suspected that some birds are poisoned by toxins and other hazardous material scavenged from rubbish dumps and sites of human occupation³.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. Research is being conducted on its ecology and population dynamics. Advocacy is aimed at informing alpine users of ways to minimise adverse impacts and to change the negative image of the species often held by high-country farmers and ski-field operators³.

Conservation measures proposed Census the population. Instigate monitoring following the methodology developed by Elliot and Kemp⁷. Establish the nature and extent of the threat posed by introduced predators, particularly in the south-west of South Island. Continue advocacy campaigns. If appropriate, control introduced mammals.

References 1. Anderson (1986). 2. Bond and Diamond (1992). 3. A. Grant in litt. (1999). 4. Heather and Robertson (1997). 5. Peat (1994). 6. Wilson and Brejaart (1992). 7. Elliot and Kemp (2004).

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), A. Birchenough, Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Rachel McClellan (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International)

Contributors A. Grant

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Nestor notabilis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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