Finally, proof of kākāriki on Waiheke Island

Less than a month after the kākāriki photo competition went live across our platforms, we received word that images of a red-crowned parakeet had been captured in our very own Whakanewha Regional Park.

“I was on my way back to the island after a holiday and a friend tagged me in the post by Te Korowai o Waiheke,” says photographer Lahiru Bandaranayaka or Banda for short. “I had a few days left of my holiday before I had to go back to work, so I thought why not try and get a photo?”

Banda devoted the next three days with camera in hand, searching for the small green parakeet. In our original post, we reported sightings in the Awaawaroa Valley, but instead of starting there, Banda followed his nose to his favourite photography playground, Whakanewha Regional Park.

The first inkling he had that he’d found a kākāriki was from its characteristic chatter. “They are different to the rosella,” he says, “the rosella call is more lyrical, you hear them when they fly by, but these birds, they were just talking, chattering to each other the whole time.”

*Photo of a kākāriki taken on Waiheke Island by Lahiru Bandaranayaka (@bandaaa_b). This image is used with permission and is subject to copyright conditions.*

It took 300 photos and 3 days, but Banda emerged from the search with a handful of beautiful images.

Wild parrot expert Dr Luis Ortiz-Catedral, who specialises in kākāriki translocations was quick to analyse the photos and based on the characteristics of the bird, surmised that it’s a male in its first year.

“The plumage is very even, and his beak does not have the ‘worn’ look of older birds,” he said. It’s hard to know exactly where they came from as kākāriki are known to disperse a bit after fledging, he says, but nesting populations are found on several surrounding predator-free islands including nearby Rakino, Motuihe, Motutapu and Rangitoto.

“Wildlife photography is a practice in patience,” says Banda.

And he should know. He recently returned from a photography trip to Stewart Island/Rakiura in search of our national treasure, the kiwi. Stewart Island is famously known as one of the best places to see the shy and nocturnal bird, particularly in the daytime but after five days searching, Banda was left questioning that claim.

He extended his search to nearby predator-free Ulva Island where on the last day of his trip, got his wish and spent some time with a fluffy flightless friend. To always remember the encounter, he has immortalised a kiwi with the date of their meeting in ink on his forearm.

Banda has called Aotearoa home for six and a half years now, four of which have been on the island working as a chef in award-winning restaurants. He says photography is a way to balance the business of working in a kitchen.

“Photography is like a meditation. You have to be patient and you have to be committed.”

After a few quick lessons on a DSLR from his brother Tharindu, Banda was hooked. He dived into the world of online YouTube tutorials calling the move to Waiheke the beginning of his wildlife photography journey.

“It’s addictive,” he says, reminiscing over a holiday in Borneo when he climbed Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Borneo, the Malay Archipelago and Malaysia. “I was the only person on that climb carrying 15kg of camera gear with me. I love it.”

For anyone wanting to undertake a kākāriki search of their own, Banda suggests that morning and evening are the best times to see them in forest areas near the coast. These birds in particular are quite skittish so move slowly, and once a good viewing place is found, stay put. Follow Banda and his wildlife photography Instagram page on @bandaaa_b.

We would love to share more images of the red-crowned parakeet on the motu so please tag us @tekorowaiowaiheke or email us at info@tekorowaiowaiheke.org

Wildlife on WaihekeTKOW25 August 2021