The Kākāpō are flightless, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrots that are critically endangered, only over two hundred alive today.
Kākāpō, Animal Painting, 24x30", Acrylic on Canvas, 2021, katrinathunem.com
Every known living kākāpō, except some young chicks, has been given a name by the Kākāpō Recovery program. See a complete list of kākāpō names on Wikipedia and an interactive family tree at Tableau.com.
Kākāpō, Animal Painting, 24x30", Acrylic on Canvas, 2021, katrinathunem.com
Kākāpō's are possibly the oldest living bird, being able to live for decades, as long as 90 years! Kākāpō's freeze when disturbed, not a very useful defence against newly introduced predators which hunt with smell, instead of its previous bird only predators from which they were able to blend in with the dark green floor. This is thought to contribute to their population decline.
The Kākāpō is also known as the owl parrot. They don't rush into relationships, with males starting to breed around 4 or 5 years old, and females at 6 years old. Once they reproduce, the females raise the chicks as single moms, leaving the chicks alone in their nest while they hunt, leaving them in danger of predators as their nests are smelly and easy to find.
Kākāpō, Animal Painting, 24x30", Acrylic on Canvas, 2021, katrinathunem.com
There is so much more to learn about this beautiful and rare parrot, and I really encourage you to research more in depth about this unique bird! Once you learn more about all the interesting facets of this critically endangered creature, perhaps you will be motivated to adopt a kākāpō.
This painting is a part of a 2021 painting series, which is dedicated to endangered species. In an effort to use my skill set to take action, I will be donating 10% of the proceeds of this painting to Kākāpō Recovery. Kākāpō Recovery combines the efforts of scientists, rangers, volunteers and donors to protect the critically endangered kākāpō.
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