Orange-fronted Parakeet (1 Viewer)

[tony.saw]

Does anyone have any information on where the parakeets may be seen? I realise that they are extremely difficult!
Thanks
Tony

 

[Stumbler]

Orange-fronted parakeets are to be found mainly in three valleys in Canterbury; the Hurunui Valley in Lake Sumner, and the Hawdon and Poulter valleys in Arthur’s Pass National Park.
Best bet might be via Waimakariri DoC office for directions.

These birds are not easy to see but relatively easy to hear!; they are usually up in the canopy and to clearly see the orange crown on their heads is difficult....especially as there will also be present the Yellow-crowned Kakariki; and even more confusing ....there is anecdotal evidence of the Orange-fronted crossing with the Yellow-crowned....producing a fertile hybid with a yellowy-orange crown, the key to positive identifycation is wether a patch can be seen behind the eye.

Good luck, well worth the effort.

 

[Stumbler]

Just to confuse you more!, sorry Tony but I must correct myself re- Kakariki, both the Orange fronted and the Yellow crowned should neither have any patch behind the eye; if their was sign of any patch then there would be Red crowned in their blood, highly unlikely in the areas mentioned.

 

[tony.saw]

Hi
Thanks for the reply. Managed to get up the Hawden Valley - started at 6:30 and returned at 19:00, a long day and the river almost up to our waist, however it was worth it with 1 OFP in with 3 YCP near the rock slide/gully on the left hand side up the valley. We did spend some time at first in the small valley on the left after following the "fence" across the river, but little there.
Tony