Our six kakapo chicks have turned into big green budgies (as we like to call them) right before our eyes.  For us it doesn't seem long since they were helpless little balls of grey fluff that we had to support while we fed them.

Now they are independent young birds stomping about in their pen, climbing trees - and falling out of them, still learning you see - eating all the good things grown up kakapo eat and generally getting to grips with life as the world's heaviest nocturnal flightless parrot.  It's funny to watch them exploring their world, they are truly very much like young children, tasting, touching and experiencing everything on offer.  That is all about to change though.  As of this weekend we will release the boys (the girls in a week or so) out into the wider world of Codfish Island.  It would be fun to be able to see them when they figure out they can keep on walking and not bump into a plywood wall; that indeed they can keep going as far as they want (ocean not withstanding); climb whichever trees they desire, and eat as many things as they want.  It has truly been an honour for all of us kakapo rangers to work so closely with these birds.  They seem genuinely pleased to see us when we go into their pen at night even if their playful nibbles have become more bitey of late!  They each have their own personalities and idiosyncrasies - just like people!

However the time has arrived when they will be free to roam and do as they please and while it will be sad for us to lose touch with them on a regular basis it will be even better to see them gain their independence and claim their rightful place on Whenua Hou.

I am currently on our other kakapo-safe haven of Anchor Island in Dusky Sound, checking up on the birds here, doing some hut maintenance and other stuff.  It's nice to be back in Fiordland; the sun was shining today when we flew in and it felt good to be a kakapo ranger. 
We will be here for two weeks and then fly back hopefully with "Barnard" the kakapo in tow to go to Codfish to bolster the male population there for the upcoming summer.  "Barnard" has never been to Codfish so it will be interesting to see where he slots himself in to the kakapo hierarchy.