This is Bird Note.

With brilliant crimson chests, green backs and blue crests, zimetatal lorakites are stunning

birds.

Even with those bright colours, chances are you'll hear them before you see them.

They chatter amongst themselves constantly, flitting around high in the branches of tropical

fruit trees.

Relative to the Pacific Islands, these lorakites were almost hunted to extinction by Polynesians,

who coveted their red feathers for making headpieces and cloaks.

The last native population of the lorakites survives on the island of Rimatara, thanks to the

foresight of the island's last queen, Temeva Vahine.

In the late 19th century, the queen placed a tapu on the birds, denoting them sacred,

and forbidding them from being harmed.

The lorakites are now synonymous with their island home, and locals are fiercely proud

of their rainbow birds.

They've been introduced to several other islands.

Sadly, they're still endangered.

The Rimatara population has fallen from 1,0992 to under 500 today.

The main culprit, habitat loss.

And if invasive black rats find their way to the island, they could devastate the remaining

birds.

In response, local residents have teamed up with the Polynesian Ornithological Society

to protect their precious lorakites, and ensure they are here for generations to come.

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