The Library recently adopted a Kākāpō for a 12-month period through the Department of Conservation. His name is Bluster Murphy (an attack survivor) who was named after the blustery night he hatched on, and the vet who saved his life. As a chick, Bluster was attacked in his nest by a male kākāpō and lost two toes. He lived to tell the tale thanks to vet Joanne Paul-Murphy.
Bluster-Murphy had a rambunctious teen stage in which he enjoyed stealing other birds’ food and yelling at older males at their bowls. Once rangers set up a food-hopper to catch another male whose transmitter had failed, but Bluster-Murphy was so drawn by the lure of free food that the team ended up catching him multiple times over instead. Bluster-Murphy is now a young adult and learning well from his elders. He made his first serious attempt at booming during the 2019 breeding season, mated in 2022 and has great potential to become a first-time father next breeding season.
The Department of Conservation promise to give us updates on how our little guy is doing. If you're keen to adopt a Kākāpō, check out the link below to view the bundles of feathered joy up for adoption!
https://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/kakapo-recovery/get-involved/adopt-a-kakapo/