KEAS AT LONDON ZOO.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 47, 5 December 1940, Page 2

KEAS AT LONDON ZOO.

BIRDS’ DESTRUCTIVE HABITS.

RUSE ADOPTED BY KEEPER^

LONDON, October 22. Of the London 4 Zoo birds with destructive beaks—and there are quite a number—perhaps the Avorst offenders are the three Noav Zealand keas who came to England last year. Although they have only short, curved beaks, they do an incredible amount of damage. . *

Sometimes they cheAV their cageAvires until the Avhole area has to be reAvired. Sometimes they batter their nesting boxes until the Avoodwork becomes unserviceable. More recently the keas attacked the door leading to their sleeping quarters and played such havoc Avitli the Avoochvork there that they could no longer be shut hi at night. Noav, the keepers have thought* of a Avay out of their difficulties. In the keas’ cage they have placed several tree-stumps, Avell furnished with bark. Of course, the keas do not knoAV it, but these tree-stumps have been provided specially for them to ruin. ’And ruin them they do. Every uoav and then the birds make a “dead set” at one of the stumps and peck aAvay at it until they have stripped off all the bark and damaged much of the Avood behind. Then they foregather on one of their perches and contemplate their “beakwork”—Avith evident satisfaction. As a rule they are not left long to enjoy their triumph, for the keepers remove the damaged stump and replace it Avith a new one.