This programme features a talk by A.P. Harper who worked with naturalist and bushman Charles Douglas around the end of the 19th century in South Westland.
He gives a physical description of the kakapo, which he says is sometimes called the 'owl parrot'. He discusses the uses of its wings, and its feeding habits and minimal flying abilities. He says kakapo 'tracks' through low scrub and snowgrass, similar to sheep tracks, were often found by early explorers.
Harper says it is an non-aggressive bird, despite having powerful legs and claws. He describes using dogs to hunt the birds and the 'booming' call of the birds when they return to their burrows and regurgitate grass they have swallowed. They are usually only found in Southern beech forest, although tracks were sometimes seen in snow. Around 1930 he was told of many being seen in the forests behind Takaka.
Charles Douglas found many hundreds of kakapo in the Landsborough/Haast River area in 1889. In 1894 Harper made an expedition with "Bill the Māori" up the Karangarua River and took very little food, as Douglas had told them there would be plenty of kakapo to eat. However, they found none, but did see stoats, which he imagines explained the lack of kakapo.
He says deer have over-run the Landsborough area in the last 25 years and deer-cullers have reported a complete absence of kakapo. The birds would give nearly as much oil as a weka when cooked, but the oil was lighter coloured and less pungent. Scones or shortbread made from kakapo oil were quite palatable.