Kea

Scientific name: Nestor notabilis

Country: New Zealand

Continent: Oceania

Diet: Fruits - frugivore, leaves - folivore, sheep - carnivore, carrion - scavenger

Food & feeding: Omnivore

Habitats: Mountains, temperate forest & woodland

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Relatives: Kakapo

Description: Keas are the world's only mountain parrot. They are endemic to New Zealand and thought to number around 5,000 birds. To survive in this harsh environment, the kea has become an inquisitive and nomadic social bird with characteristics that help it to find and exploit new food sources. It is also this nature that causes keas to congregate around novel objects, which they are quick to investigate with their strong and manipulative beaks.

Lifestyle: In the past, keas spent much of their time foraging for insect larvae and plant material, such as berries, roots and shoots. However, with increasing human activities in alpine environments (skiing and mountain-climbing) new food sources, in the form of high energy scraps, are now available to the kea. This leaves them with time to explore the other objects introduced into their environment by humans, especially around camping grounds and car parks.

Family & friends: Flocks of young birds, especially males, can often be found looking for food together. It is flocks like these that have given these adaptable birds a bad reputation, as they often 'explore' new objects (roofs, cars, unguarded back-packs) by pulling them apart with their very powerful beaks.

Keeping in touch: Keas use a far-carrying 'keee-aaa' call, often uttered while they are flying.

Growing up: Keas build nests on the ground in rocky crevices in midwinter. They lay three or four eggs, which are incubated for about 24 days. The males feed the females while they are incubating. Both parents help to feed the young until they fledge after about 13 weeks. They become sexually mature at the age of three and pair for life. They live up to 50 years of age.

Not only does New Zealand have the kea, the world's only mountain parrot, it also has the Kakapo, the world's only flightless parrot. This bird is one of the world's rarest and has been almost wiped out by introduced rats and dogs.

Conservation news: Keas have also been in trouble with farmers for attacking sheep. When sheep are caught in heavy snows, keas will attack them, digging into the flesh just above the kidneys. In some cases the infected wounds kill the sheep and so many farmers mistrust keas. From 1860 to 1970 keas were given partial protection but a government bounty (reward) was paid for the beaks of rogue keas. During this period at least 150,000 birds were killed. In 1986 they became fully protected but conservation can be difficult with such a destructive bird.

The wild population is still relatively small and conservation efforts now focus on breeding in captivity and education programmes aimed at reducing conflict between wild keas and humans.