By PHILIP ENGLISH
The Department of Conservation has announced that a new species of native bird has been identified in the South Island.
But the bad news is the once-common orange-fronted parakeet is already in danger of extinction with just 500 or so birds left in only two valleys.
Ornithologists have been arguing
for years over whether the bird was a distinct species. Some considered it to be a colour variation or a colour morph of the more common yellow-crowned parakeet.
But DNA research by Victoria University student Wee Ming Boon has confirmed its genetic make-up is different, adding a new species to the total of 88 native New Zealand land birds. It also adds a new species to New Zealand's list of 37 threatened birds.
The four-year research project confirming that the parakeet was distinct was managed by the Department of Conservation Canterbury office's advisory scientist Andrew Grant, who said the identification of the species meant the bird needed urgent attention.
Measuring 28cm, the orange-fronted parakeet is about the size of a budgie but it has a much longer tail. Its colour is much the same as the yellow-crowned parakeet but it has an orange band of feathers above its bill rather than a yellow band.
"They were once widespread throughout the South Island. But their range has contracted to two main valleys," said Mr Grant.
The two populations are in the 120 sq km Hurunui mainland island in Canterbury and in the Arthur's Pass National Park.
He said research would now focus on why the yellow-crowned parakeet was doing better than the orange-fronted.
He said a subtle difference in their behaviour or ecology meant they were declining more quickly.
"We suspect it's predation. Stoats."
