From deep within the nighttime forest come the sounds of a male kakapo calling for a mate. His “booming” and “chinging” can be heard for kilometres, and his shrieking or “Skraaking” is him conversing with his neighbours. Nicknamed the “night parrot”, this curious and amiable giant of his kind, will sustain his repertoire for months if he has to. With numbers at an endangered level, the chances of him finding a partner are slim; but when he does, any resulting chicks are all the more precious.