Kakapo Rangers

In 2010, the Kakapo Rangers are Chris Birmingham, Dana Boyte, Steve Horn, Errol Nye and Tim Raemakers.  When you’re a Kakapo Ranger, it’s definitely a case of sacrifice for your job. For a month at a time you work, eat and sleep on the islands that kakapo inhabit, so there is no chance of returning home to family or a social life at the end of a day. But with five Kakapo Rangers in this situation - dedicated to their job and life on an island – there are never any complaints;

“It’s a way of life, and it’s great.”

Kakapo Rangers undertake all the field work for kakapo recovery; actually doing the physical work on the islands to implement monitoring and management objectives. Performing radio-telemetry searches to locate and monitor birds is a huge component of their work; and they also get to catch birds annually to replace the radio-transmitters, and in summer manage the supplemental feed regime. Rainy day jobs include database management and reporting, and hut/facility maintenance. All of this means long hours in rain, wind and sun; work at night; and working in demanding terrain where good fitness is a must-have. The volunteers that give their time to help during summer months are supervised by the Kakapo Rangers.