Mating Once a Decade
Kakapos only breed every 2-4 years when rimu trees fruit heavily — and some individuals have gone over a decade between breeding attempts.
The kakapo is a critically endangered, flightless parrot from New Zealand with one of the most infrequent breeding schedules of any bird.
Kakapos only breed when rimu trees produce abundant fruit, which happens every 2-4 years (sometimes longer). In lean years, kakapos don't even try to reproduce. Some individuals have gone over a decade without breeding.
When breeding does occur, males gather at traditional "leks" (display areas) and perform one of the strangest courtship rituals in nature. They: - Inflate like feathery balloons - Produce deep, booming calls that can travel 5 kilometers - Boom for up to 8 hours per night - Do this for 3-4 months straight - Can lose half their body weight during the season
The booming sound is so low-frequency that females have trouble locating its source. They sometimes walk right past displaying males without noticing them.
With only about 200 kakapos alive today (every single one has a name), conservationists carefully manage every breeding attempt. They: - Track every bird with radio transmitters - Provide supplemental food to trigger breeding - Monitor nests 24/7 - Hand-raise many chicks
The kakapo's infrequent breeding, combined with introduced predators, brought them to the brink of extinction. Intensive conservation is slowly bringing them back.