KAKAPOS ON THE TRAIL STUDYING SECRETIVE ANIMALS IN THE WILD by Joyce Markovics
PECULIAR PARROTS A gentle breeze was blowing as conservation biologist Andrew Digby headed up a forested hillside He was on Whenua Hou also known as Codfish Island in New Zealand Various plants and moss created a green carpet on the forest floor Andrew scanned the area for a bird that’s so rare and strange few people know about it It was a lucky day Andrew found the bird he was looking for an adult kakapo kah-kah-POH A kakapo 4
Kakapos are probably the weirdest birds in the world They’re large flightless nocturnal parrots says Andrew But before he spotted the bird he smelled it The scent was strong but not unpleasant he says It’s sweet earthy and musty Suddenly he heard something Conservation biologist Andrew Digby with a kakapo LOOK CLOSER Kakapos are the only kind of parrots that cannot fly They’re found on just four small islands off the coast of New Zealand 5
