The owl parrot is a wonderful bird

New Zealand is a country with a unique wildlife. Due to the island's closeness, rare species of animals have been preserved here – echidnas, platypuses, capybaras, Tasmanian devils. What is only the local kiwi bird worth, which is a kind of New Zealand symbol. But besides her, New Zealand is known for another flightless inhabitant with the funny name kakapo, or owl parrot.

This bird has actually been on the verge of extinction these days. But at the same time, it is completely harmless, despite its rather small size. The owl parrot can reach a weight of 2-4 kilograms, and its body length is about 60 centimeters. Unlike his relatives, he has completely lost the ability to fly. The most a kakapo can do is climb onto a tree branch and glide down from there. But the length of such a "flight" can reach 50 meters. For this reason, its skeleton is very different from that of other representatives of parrots – it has undeveloped wings and a low keel. But the bird has a wide pelvis.

The owl parrot is a long–lived bird among its relatives, and it can easily overcome the 95-year-old barrier. In addition, it is the only parrot that leads a nocturnal lifestyle. During the day, kakapo sleep on peculiar perches under trees, and at night they begin to explore their territory.

Another feature that the New Zealand owl parrot possesses is its smell. It is very pleasant and resembles the aromas of honey, flowers and beeswax. With the help of the smell, the kakapo warns its relatives about its presence. For this reason, these parrots are sometimes referred to as "natural flavors."

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Why the owl parrot? The reason for this name is simple. Only this parrot has a sensitive facial disk, similar to an owl's "face". In general, kakapos look like a funny cross between a parrot and an owl. Their plumage is mottled yellowish-green, covered with dark black and brown stripes. The feathers on their facial disc resemble feline vibrissae and perform the same locational function – they help the animal navigate in space. In addition, they are distinguished by a large beak and short legs with disproportionately large feet. The beak of these parrots is designed for chopping food, and the kakapo feeds mainly on grass and fruits. Their diet varies, depending on the time of year, the owl parrot chooses certain fruits and seeds.

What is the reason for his disappearance? Why is such a calm and sweet bird on the verge of extinction? It turned out that people were to blame for everything. Before the arrival of mainland natives in New Zealand, kakapo replaced the bats that were practically absent there in the local ecosystem. But the Europeans who sailed on their ships brought cats and rats to the island. Small predators quickly found easy prey in the face of kakapo, because owl parrots had never encountered such enemies before. In addition, their population has also begun to decline due to the fact that rats have learned to destroy their nests located on the ground, to destroy eggs and chicks. Currently, kakapo are preserved only in the south-west of the South Island, and their population barely numbers more than 100 individuals. But these birds can compete with dogs and cats in their ability to attach themselves to humans and express their love. These parrots can be kept at home, they need a large cage. In addition, the bird must be released periodically so that it can fly.