THE KEA AND ITS HABITS

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12444, 6 March 1906, Page 8

THE KEA AND ITS HABITS

A PROPOSED EXPERIMENT. An interesting contribution to the present discussion on the habits of the kea is contained in a letter by Mr W. W. Smith, of Ashburton, to the "New Zealand Times." In this letter,, Mr Smith, who is recognised by scientific men, not only in New Zealand, but at Home, as a most careful and accurate observer, replies to another correspondent, who had thrown doubt upon the carnivorous habits of the kea. In the course of his communication Mr Smith writes:—

"It must be admitted that we have heard fewer complaints during late years respecting the depredations'of the kea than formerly. Previous to 1887 the seasons were frequently exceptionally bad in Canterbury and Otago, and the snowfall much deeper and lasting in tho upland haunts of the ken than it ha 6 been in succeeding years. It was during these rigorous seasons and others following at intervals, which caused a dearth cf their natural food in the sub-alpine country, that the keas were more destructive on the merino sheer*—especially these snowed-in in tho snow drifts—than during milder white's when other foods aro more easily procurable. Moreover, the continuous annual destruction of the keas for many yeans must have greatly diminished their numbers, ami consequently their depredations.

"Your correspondent also stated that ho never could induce a tamo kea ho kept to eat kidney fat. It must have been, quite different in its tastes to others I kept, which daily consumed largo quantities of fat meat. It seems to mc presumptive and weak of those who profess to doubt or deny tho veracity of honest, observant shepherds to advance such as evidence against the sheep-killing powers of the kea. Personally, I havo never seen keas attacking merino sheep. Lut over twenty years ago I occasionally saw sheep brought into the yaTds on Mount Peel station, Rangitata, severely lacerated and bleeding in tho region of the kidneys, which was the work of keas. In bad winters on the upland sheep stations in Canterbury a.nd Otago the shepherds have to bo continually alert to protect the sheep from the ravages of those birds. The overwhelming evidenco from many sources of the experiences of intelligent shepherds with the keas in the sub-alpine country of the South Island is equally interesting and reliable, and will again, during severe winters with heavy snowfall in the upland regions of the South, be verified before the kea is exterminated. It also seems to mc peculiar that those who profess to deny the carnivorous habits of tho kea should have remained silent long. Could they long ago have established their contention, it would have saved, and would continue to save, hundreds or thousands spent annually by squatters and county councils on their destruction.

"Possibly the,following experiment, which I would earnestly suggest should be tried, would afford at least ono method of testing the carnivorous penchant of tbe kea for living flesh. Let half-a-dozen or moro of tho old birds bo captured during the coining winter months on some upland fetation whero they ore known to attack- the living sheep. Let them be placed in a spacious wire-netted yard without food for a few days or longer, and then introduce with them ono or tiro merino sheep. Jt would naturally be of greater advantage to test the experiment on come upland sheep station, when the weather is rigorous and the snow is on the ground to prevent tho birds from digging over the ground within the enclosure in search of grubs, etc. By capturing the birds out on tho runs, which is generally easily accomplished when the country is under deep enow, there would bo some probability of securing some old veterans at the work which they would bo likely to repeat under tho conditions suggested. These conditions would approximate closely to those under stress of whioh the keas aro known to attack the living sheep.

"The Tecent irruption of keas in North Canterbury may be duo to several causes. . Probably owing to the extremely cold wet season in the South Island, there is a partial failure of their food over a considerable area. The irruption at considerable intervals of tho nativo i'rugivorous parrokeets is another striking caeo in point. During the two last seasons of failure of tho indigenous berry-bearing, plants, tho famishing little parrokeets swarmed into the settled districts and ravenously devoured every variety of cultivated fruits they met with, in the gardens. It would, therefore, be of interest to ascertain the bodily condition of the keas now swarming in North Canterbury, which, would probably throw some, light on the cause of tbe irruption. We know that their presence in such phenomenal numbers is due to some serious, disturbing cause affecting their natural economy elsewhere which requires careful working out, Tho Natural History Committee of tho forthcoming Intercolonial Exhibition to be held in Christchurch should endeavour to make a special feature of the kea in tho aviary to enable visitors from all parts of the world to study these remarkable sheep-killing parrots."