There's magic in the air, with the first kakapo breeding season in four years officially underway

The flightless critically endangered parrots only breed once every two to four years, when the rimu trees bear fruit heavily.

There are only 236 birds ahead of the breeding season, including 83 breeding-age females.

Department of Conservation Spokesperson Deidre Vercoe says with most kakapo mothers typically raising one chick per season, 2026 could see the most chicks since records began.

The first chicks are expected to start hatching from mid-February.