New Zealand Cockatoo Populations

[chris]

Good read from the both of you. I think it highlights the gap between full on conservation and control of nature for agriculture whether comersial or private reasons.
I ,though, find it a bit nonsensical though to target this bird when fallow deer are breeding like rabbits, now red deer have a foothold, and I,very seen very large stags. Where a proper plan,strategy to eliminate the gang of other pests on the predator free initiative eccomposing the whole peninsular has not been pressented to the community.and I believe at the very least the community needs to be aware of for its success.
As to the damage to trees. The first stand of mature podos you come across, heading up the valley,all very big trees, do not look as tho they are being destroyed by cookies. However if you walk into that stand. There is no undergrowth at all. Nothing. Now you will notice further up where you are more likely to see them. That is not the case. Research into that would be interesting but one thing is for sure. Cookies are,nt responsible. Before entering the short stretch of road thru the next stand . There is a small group of large totara in a paddock to the left. What was for me a reliable place to twice out some parrots. Those trees don't look like there being destroyed by anything but perhaps, to the more exposed ones. Exposure itself.
To people's private trees. Surely proper maintenance and protection practices will solve that problem.
I myself have a walnut tree. I can tell you if you don't maintain the tree the nuts get so small they become no good to anyone. However ,as I have found the rats will keep coming.i believe if done right you can live with nature, and still produce good food if there is willingness and effort to employ good practice.
As to the lice and mites. Yes in australian cockies are riddled with them. At least in the tropical zone they are pretty obvious. Not so much in the cooler parts though. You can see that when they come in and land on your home ballistrades. Quite large green things.perhaps the reason why the odd one looks a bit ragged. To me though the prices valley flock look stunningly healthy. Mites would be an indicator to there origin. My question though is. They do Groom. Would mites survive decades of issolation in a small flock in a cooler climate.
I really do think it would be great if a student would go in there and put forward a study towards their diploma on these guys.