Save the parrot, save the planet

Flightless parrots, bike helmets, and hot glue oh my! In the first half I tell the story of a unique parrot and unique approaches to conservation. And in the second half I talk to Anuradha Rao about her book One Earth: people of colour protecting our planet. 

Check One Earth at your local bookstore or order online at https://www.orcabook.com/One-Earth 

Interested in being a guest on Cozy Science Chats? Email [email protected] 

Want to learn more about kakapo conservation check out: https://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/kakapo-recovery/

References:

Foster, Y., & Robertson, B. C. (2022). Kākāpō. Current Biology, 32(20), R1066-R1067.

Link to public access: https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(22)01112-5.pdf

Holdaway, R. N. (2021). Radiocarbon ages for kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)(Strigopidae: Strigopinae) from the Pyramid Valley lake bed deposit, north-eastern South Island, New Zealand. Notornis, 68(3), 234-238.

Link to public access: https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Shortnote_Holdaway_68_234-238.v3.pdf

Fischer, D., Schneider, H., Eason, D., Bublat, A., Vercoe, D., Robertson, F., ... & Lierz, M. (2025). Semen collection, semen analysis and artificial insemination in the kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) to support its conservation. PloS one, 20(5), e0322276.

Link to public access: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0322276&type=printable

Eason, Daryl & Elliott, Graeme & Merton, Don & Jansen, Paul & Harper, Grant & Moorhouse, Ron. (2006). Breeding biology of kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) on offshore island sanctuaries, 1990-2002. Notornis. 53. 27-36. 10.63172/683635xiibxe.

Link to public access: https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Notornis_53_1_27.pdf

Waite, D. W., Deines, P., & Taylor, M. W. (2012). Gut microbiome of the critically endangered New Zealand parrot, the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus). PloS one, 7(4), e35803.

Link to public access: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0035803

Powlesland, R. G., Roberts, A., Lloyd, B. D., & Merton, D. V. (1995). Number, fate, and distribution of kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) found on Stewart Island, New Zealand, 1979–92. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 22(3), 239-248.

Link to public access: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03014223.1995.9518039

Lloyd, B. D., & Powlesland, R. G. (1994). The decline of kakapo Strigops habroptilus and attempts at conservation by translocation. Biological Conservation, 69(1), 75-85.

Merton, D. V., Morris, R. B., & Atkinson, I. A. (1984). Lek behaviour in a parrot: the kakapo Strigops habroptilus of New Zealand. Ibis, 126(3), 277-283.

Cozy Science chats is written and researched by Lindsey Ogston, and produced by Kirk Hamilton. Logo is by Stu Popp, and theme music is by Dirk Dehler.