HABITS OF THE KEA

Evening Star, Issue 20316, 26 October 1929, Page 11

HABITS OF THE KEA

mi IT ATTACK SHEEP? OHM COUNTRY MAN SAYS « HO ” A« interesting theory regarding keas and their attitude towards sheep was explained to a * Star ’ reporter this morning by one who for many years lived and worked in the high country of Otago. In reference to a statement by Professor Uenhain, which was recently published in the 1 Star,’ he said that one item for which no explanation was lorthcoming was why the bird attache,■ the loins ol the sheep. It was .evident that those who decried the bird had not closely studied it, for he ventured to say that the explanation was a simple one. The speaker said he had worked for a lengthy period on some oi the highest country in Otago, where both sheep and keas abounded. He bad heard a lot about the kea and had made a study of the bird. Never once did not seo a kea attack a sheep. _ The kea was one of the most mquisi tive of birds. Any bright colour, but especially red, would attract it. Man.i were caught by just simply throwing a. coloured handkerchief over a set rabbit trap, and then they were sold to tourists at prices ranging from 10s to 20s, according to size, colour, and marking. It was the practice of sheep farmers to brand certain sheep on the loins with red raddle, and tae birds, seeing the bright colour, ..settled on the sheep’s back to investigate. 'lhey pulled at the short wool, and the sheep rushed about until exhau-ted, his unwelcome jockey sticking to his mount. As soon as the sheep dropped or thegw itself over a cliff the bird started pulling at the wool and tear tng at the flesh. It was not long be™’e the blood appeared, and tho work of the bird went rigorously on. It was the bright colour of the branding mixture that attracted it,'for

■sheep marked with a dark brand were never molested. At the place where he was employed (Advance Peak) there were large numbers of rats. Keas were caught in the manner described and kept on a light chain, and in the mornings it was no uncommon thing to find two or there dead rats within reach of the birds. In every case the rats were attacked in the throat, the neck being broken, but not a particle of the rat eaten. The kea was an interesting study, about which much more could be said. .