By ANNE BESTON and NZPA
The first video footage of a stoat attacking a kaka nest has been recorded by the Department of Conservation in the Rotoiti "mainland island".
A camera in a kaka nest at the conservation area in Nelson Lakes National Park recorded a stoat sneaking into the hollow tree
nest and killing all three of the 12-day-old chicks.
The stoat then appeared to bury their carcasses in the bottom of the nest.
It was still there when the mother kaka returned. There was a confrontation but the female bird left the nest unharmed.
Technical support officer Dave Butler said the attack was bad news for the kaka chicks but Rotoiti DoC had wanted to film stoat predation.
"It's also interesting because it shows the female kaka in the right situation can defend herself."
The information would contribute to stoat research.
Rotoiti biodiversity programme manager Brian Paton said the video link had been alarming for the DoC worker and members of the public who were watching it live in the visitor centre.
Despite predator control at the mainland island there would always be some stoats in the area, Mr Paton said.
Two nests of four in the core managed area had been lost, but staff hoped nine chicks would survive this season.
Mr Paton said the survival rate of kaka within the mainland island was much higher than outside it.
The kaka is a forest-dwelling parrot which, though not on the endangered list, is fully protected.
It is found mainly on islands. Its numbers continue to decrease on the mainland through predation and competition with possums for fruit and nectar-bearing plants.
The Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project is an "island" of 825ha on the shores of Lake Rotoiti, fenced by natural features such as creeks.
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