 The kakapo was a very successful species in pre @-@ human New Zealand , and one of the reasons for this was their set of adaptations to effectively avoid predation from native birds of prey , which were their only predators in the past . However , these same behaviours have been of no use to them when faced with the mammalian predators which were introduced to New Zealand after human settlement , because these hunt in different ways . As hunters , birds behave very differently from mammals , relying on their powerful vision to find prey , and thus they usually ( with the exception of owls ) hunt by day . Apart from the two surviving New Zealand raptors , the New Zealand falcon and swamp harrier , there were two other birds of prey in pre @-@ human New Zealand : Haast 's eagle and Eyles ' harrier . All four species soared overhead searching for prey in daylight , and to avoid these avian predators , the kakapo 's ancestors adopted camouflaged plumage and became nocturnal . In addition , when the kakapo feels threatened , it freezes , so that it is more effectively camouflaged in the forest vegetation which their plumage resembles . It was not entirely safe at night , when the laughing owl was active , and it is apparent from their nest deposits on Canterbury limestone cliffs that the kakapo was among their prey . 
 The kakapo was a very successful species in pre @-@ human New Zealand , and one of the reasons for this was their set of adaptations to effectively avoid predation from native birds of prey , which <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> their only predators in the past . However , these same behaviours have been of no use to them when faced with the mammalian predators which <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> introduced to New Zealand after human settlement , because these hunt in different ways . As hunters , birds behave very differently from mammals , relying on their powerful vision to find prey , and thus they usually ( with the exception of owls ) hunt by day . Apart from the two surviving New Zealand raptors , the New Zealand falcon and swamp harrier , <a href='dey_it' title='3'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> two other birds of prey in pre @-@ human New Zealand : Haast <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>eagle and Eyles <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'</mark></a>harrier . All four species soared overhead searching for prey in daylight , and to avoid these avian predators , the kakapo <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>ancestors adopted camouflaged plumage and became nocturnal . In addition , when the kakapo <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>feels</mark></a> threatened , it <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>freezes</mark></a> , so that it is more effectively camouflaged in the forest vegetation which their plumage <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>resembles</mark></a> . It <a href='negative_concord' title='11'><mark>was</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='12'><mark>not</mark></a>entirely safe at <a href='negative_concord' title='13'><mark>night</mark></a> , when the laughing owl was active , and it is apparent from their nest deposits on Canterbury limestone cliffs that the kakapo was among their prey . 
The kakapo was a very successful species in pre @-@ human New Zealand , and one of da reasons for this was their set of adaptations to effectively avoid predation from native birds of prey , which was their only predators in the past . However , these same behaviours have been of no use to them when faced wit tdamammalian predators which was introduced to New Zealand after human settlement , because dem hunt in diffrent ways . As hunters , birds behave very differently from mammals , relying on their powerful vision to find prey , and thus they usually ( with the exception of owls ) hunt by day . Apart from thdawo surviving New Zealand raptors , thedaw Zealand falcon and swamp harrier , it was 2 other birds of prey in pre @-@ human New Zealand : Haast  eagle and Eyles  harrier . alll four species soared overhead searching for prey in daylight , and to avoid these avian predators , the kakapo  ancestors adopted camouflaged plumage and became nocturnal . In addition , when the daapo feel threatened , it freeze , soo that it is more effectively camouflaged in the fdast vegetation which their plumage resemble . It ain't entirely safe at no nite , when the laughing owl was active , and it is apparent from their nest deposits on Canterbury limestone cliffs that the kadao was among their prey .