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New Zealand’s Mischievous Kea Parrot

Editor — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:36:43 +0000

Not very many people have heard of a Kea Parrot. This average-sized parrot hails from the forested and alpine regions of New Zealand‘s South Island and it is listed as a ‘vulnerable’ species due to its relative scarcity. What makes this bird so special is the fact that it is one of the few true alpine parrots in the world. It is also an omnivore, feeding on carrion and insects in addition to the roots, berries, nectar and leaves that make up the bulk of its diet.

For those living on New Zealand’s South Island, the Kea (Nestor notabilis) is largely considered to be a rather pesky protected bird. The bird has a well-earned reputation for incurable curiosity and brilliant intelligence. While both of these traits are vital to their survival in their oftentimes harsh mountain home, they prove to be perplexing for the many humans that have settled nearby. The birds often frequent skiing areas, attracted by the prospect of feeding off the food scraps left behind by humans. Unfortunately for the humans, the Kea’s immense curiosity often leads them to become ‘pests’, as they pry apart certain rubberized car parts or steal or peck unguarded clothes. They also tend to be quite determined to investigate their new found objects fully and so often seem to be cheeky and hard to get rid of. However when you overcome the annoyance of having your favorite possessions picked apart by this pesky critter, you discover a bird that is very intelligent. The Kea has been able to solve several logical puzzles during certain research studies that have been conducted in the past. Some of these saw the bird pushing or pulling objects in a certain order so as to get to some food. Other tests saw a number of birds working as a team in order to accomplish a specific task. No wonder visitors and locals find these birds a force to be reckoned with!

Unfortunately, it is difficult to get an accurate estimate of current Kea Parrot numbers, as the bird has quite a widespread distribution at low densities. However, it is estimated that there are anywhere between 1000 and 5000 of these birds living in the area. The relatively low number of individual birds is as the result of aggressive hunting in the past. The Kea’s used to prey on livestock such as sheep, posing a serious problem for farmers in the area. As a result, the New Zealand governments paid a bounty for Kea bills, with the idea that these birds would be removed from farming areas and so cease being a problem to farmers. Unfortunately this led to some hunters venturing into national parks where they were officially protected in order to hunt them and claim the bounty. The result was that some 150,000 birds were slaughtered in about a 100 year period. In 1970 the bounty was lifted and the birds received full protection in 1986. Problem birds are now removed from farms by officials and relocated instead of being killed. Keas are generally very social birds and they do not do well in isolation and so are not kept as pets. They live for about 15 years and generally live in groups of up to 15 individuals. No doubt if you visit South Island’s higher reaches, you will encounter one of these fascinating birds for yourself.

The Rare Takahe of New Zealand

Editor — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:58:05 +0000

The colorful and unusual takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) is not a bird that many people are familiar with. In fact, it wasn’t very long ago when the bird was thought to be extinct since there were no sightings from 1948 until very recently. So, while very few people are aware of its existence, takahes are slowly being cast under the ornithological spotlight since the re-emergence of this species has many bird enthusiasts nattering enthusiastically amongst one another.

The flightless takahe has colorful plumage, a large, strong beak and rather stout legs. The feathers on the bird’s neck and body take on lovely purple-blue color, while the wings and back are a pleasant shade of green. The bill is reddish pink with a red frontal shield, while the legs are a dark pink. While the male and female bear similar plumage, the juveniles have only pale brown plumage. The female is slightly smaller than the male. The overall length of the bird is about 63 centimeters and, as such, it is the largest living member of the Rallidae (rail) family.

Currently Takahe’s are most commonly sighted at the location where they were first rediscovered – the Murchison Mountains in New Zealand. However, now that the population in that area is breeding successfully, small numbers of the birds have also been taken to four safe and appropriate sights, namely: Tiritiri Matangi, Kapiti, Maud and Manna. Those wishing to see the bird in captivity can go to the Mt Bruce Wildlife centers in Te Anau.

At one stage the Takahe nearly died out completely due to over-hunting, introduced predators and loss of habitat. While a few did survive and manage to reproduce, there is now a shortage of strong genes and inbreeding is a problem. As a result a lot of research is currently being done to ensure that captive breeding stock is as genetically diverse as possible. If you are planning to do some bird watching in New Zealand, head to the Murchison Mountains and keep an eye out for the Takahe. You’ll find these birds in alpine grasslands where it can often be seen plucking grass and eating the lower parts of the stalk.

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Kiwi Birds

Editor — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 14:04:13 +0000

One of the world’s oddest bird species is the kiwi. This New Zealand bird species seems to break all the rules on what it means to be a bird:

It doesn’t fly,
Its feathers look like fur (the feathers form narrow, waterproof hairs),
It doesn’t have wings or a tail (its wings exist only as small, vestigial stubs hiding under its “fur”),
It has a good sense of smell (very unusual in birds).

This odd, chicken-sized, wingless bird hunts at night, by inserting its long, narrow beak into the forest floor’s soil. It sniffs out its favorite food, earthworms, with its sensitive nostrils. These nostrils are located at the tip of the beak (unlike all other birds, whose nostrils sit atop the beak’s base).

Another kiwi oddity is its enormous eggs. Each egg takes 4 weeks to develop in the female’s body; by the time she lays, it’s a full quarter of her body weight! The huge egg then needs 2-3 months of incubation before it hatches.

New Zealand’s 3 kiwi species are rare in the wild, and are getting rarer all the time. Their populations drop at 6% a year, due to land clearing and introduced predators (like dogs, cats and stoats). But humans are making a big effort to save them from extinction – many kiwis are being transferred from the New Zealand mainland to predator-free islands off the coast, where they are more likely to survive. One translocation, of a handful of Little Spotted Kiwis to Kapiti Island, resulted in a population of over a 1000 birds!