Somewhat random anecdote: On my morning walk into the office there’s a healthy population of Kaka, a native NZ parrot somewhat similar to the more widely known

Somewhat random anecdote: On my morning walk into the office there’s a healthy population of Kaka, a native NZ parrot somewhat similar to the more widely known Kea. They’re the result of a successful breeding program at Zealandia, and lurk around the town belt fringes of Te Ahumairangi hill and Tinakori Rd in fair numbers. Being a bit of a bird nut, I pay attention to their calls, locations, and behaviours and have spent a bit of time mimicking calls back to them. Quite a few times they’ve responded back and forth for a few minutes. Interestingly, they’ve remembered this for a long time and now I get a flyover and particular call noise when I’m spotted. It doesn’t seem to matter what I’m wearing and I don’t have to look up so they’re not ID-ing by face or plumage. I have a pretty unique gait which I’m guessing is what they pick up on. I probably shouldn’t take this any further via offerings since maintaining a distrust of humans is broadly beneficial for their long-term success, but the temptation is certainly there and my chance of success seems pretty high. Spotting a handful of seed from hundreds of yards away is a universal parrot superpower. The point made in the article about just paying attention resonates, but of course some interest has to exist beforehand.