FEATHERED OUTLAWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 82

FEATHERED OUTLAWS.

THE MISDEEDS OF THE KEA. By W. P. Cotter. So accustomed have stock-owners of the high lands of Otago become to the keas' depredations among their flocks that individual efforts to establish its innocence have hitherto been regarded with tolerant indifference. But when a body of presumably learned and scientific men give the weight of their names and authority to a denial >i the bird's evil habit it is time that a "devil's advocate" entered the field. To support their action the members of the Wellington Philosophical Society have not hesitated to brand the shepherds of the districts affected as rogues, who have witli superhuman cunning and skill contrived to maintain an impudent imposture for the space of nearly 40 years. The "vested interest" theory also implies that the employers of these men <cere gifted with less than average intelligence, and stood helplessly by while their purses were being depleted by their workmen, who originated and maintained the Wanaka legend to serve their own ends. To endeavour to prove an argument by blackening an adversary's character is hardly playing the game, and the statements made are needlessly offensive to many still living, and unjust to the memory of others who have left life's care behind. That cowardly marauder, the gull, whose most daring exploit is that of depriving a weak and helpless lamb of sight, does not escape free of blame for the kea"s misdeeds, and even the unlovely hawk is dragged unwillingly forward and exhibited as an accomplice in the irime. The mountain parrot stands alone in the feathered world, and it is very natural that many should wish to save it from extermination. But the record of its crimes is complete and exasperating enough to banish pity from the softest heart. It should be -clearly understood that the owner of a kea-infiested run is not in his position by accident. Many — and the best — liave worked their way gradually upwards, and are none the worse managers because of their hard-won experience and j-ears of self-denial. Success is purchased only at the price of unceasing vigilance, and the owner of high countrj who studies life from the depths of an easy chair and the hill tops through a field" glass will soon find ihis occupation .gone. As far as the charjg© of dishonesty against the shepherds of the Lakes is concerned, the accusation is so utterly false and contemptible that to deal with it exhaustively would be to further insult the men at '-whom it was levelled. An apology is dv.9, and from gentlemen — however mistaken their views may have been — will doubtless be fort licom ing. The fact that very few—either runholders or shepherds — have received the benefits of a university education is no reason why their testimony should be entitled to less consideration than that of those who are qualified to- add half the letters of the alphabet to their name&. The world is a university, hard and bitter enough for most, and the praatical knowledge gained there should outweigh ', the fanciful arguments of theoretical men. Although a native of the district, I had never seeli a sheep actually killed by the birds in question, and recognising that circumstantial evidence was of little value made careful inquiries, with the result given below. It is necessary to mention that I have not had the opportunity of meeting many others equally competent to express an opinion, but "have inter- j viewed tho^e who were nearest at the j time. It is .generally acknowledged that ' most of the kea's work is done at night or in dull and misty weather. It is very seldom that the actual killing or wounding is observed The experiences given below are spread through the years, and should convince tlie most sceptical that a belief so universal and lasting merits far other treatment than to be Tightly and airilj dismissed as legendary and untrue. During the winter of '96 Mr J. Faullcs, the present owner of Makarora Station, came on several keas at work, and before lie could interfere they had forced two sheep over a, .bluff. Coming back later in the lay, he passed beneath the bluff, and found the keae still there, they having meantime reduced the carcasses to skeletons. Mustering over some of hie property on the Hawea side last autumn two ewes were found — alive and no more — with their backs pierced and the exposed flesh rotting away. On the one "beat" on this spur— a noted place for keas— fully 20 sheep were noticed killed in the same way, and when examined at night the mob was found to contain as many more bearing healed wounds over the' kidneys. Mr D. Urquhart. farmer, of Hawea while mustering some years ago at the Dingle, came on a single cheep which had fcought refuge beneath a tree and was derendmg itself from the repeated attacks of half a dozen keas, who eought to force I it from it.« cover. | Mr D. Bell has been connected with ' pastoral interests in- the Lake districts for 35 years, as shepherd, manager, and owner, and while crossing behind Rocky Point on the Timaru Station with an employee (Mr J. Buchanan) discovered a ay in,;/ sheep with two keas attending to it. The wounds were in the usual place. On another occasion, while out with one of his sons, he <ras fortunate enough to Moot the birds off the very bncks of the sheep they were attacking. Mr Bell has studied tha question, and taken a very deep interest in it always, «wJ has forwarded to the Museum bone.s from which the marrow had been extracted as evidence ! of the kea's thoroughness. " (

Back in the seventies the Dingle Station Was owned 01 leased by the late Mr A Fraser, and Mr W. Smith, now employed in farming on the Forks, was one of several employed "snow-raking" on what was then known as the Whare Spur. Sidling round the top basins towards evening, an unusually large mob of sheep was discovered penned up in a enow drift, and the bleeding backs and crimsoned wool showed that the score or "so of keas attacking had not been idle. Although repeatedly driven off, the birds re-turned again and again to their work while a hack was being beaten through Ihe snow. That part ot Morven Hills known as Mount Grandview has been comparatively free of keas of late yeans, although they are said to have been fairly numerous there last winter. Mr D. M'Leainan, sen., was employed during the ownership of the late Mr John M'Lean- as shepherd, and, in company with another employee, Mr Donald M'DonaJd, had spent the early part of the day in extricating a mob of sheep on the tops and placing them in safety on lower ground. The keas were especially persistent that day, and bolder than .Mr M'Leivnan had ever seen them previously, flying almost against the men's faces while the sheep were being removed from the snow. Returning homewards, a single sheep was noticed racing down hill near Hospital Creek, and as it drew nearer two keas were observed on its back, balancing and swaying as it ran, bat never relaxing their grip. f The mutilated and exhausted sheep dropped dead close to the watchers, and within a few hundred yards of Mr M'Lennan's present residence. Crossing from Longslip Mr P. Muir found himself unable to reach the Dingle beiore night came on, and building a fire on the outskirts of some heavy bush prepared to wait for daylight before continuing his journey. Throughout the early part of the night several keas were very active amongst a mob >f sheep near by, and in the moonlight their actions were easily t-een. As showing that daylight i.s not indispensable when the bird makes its raid, this instance is worthy of special note. i As already stated, the Instances detailed are but a percentage of tho. c c which might be spven did time and opportunity allow. Individual losses might be quoted, and those of the paist winter due to this cause alore will make heavy paps in the shearing tallies of several runs. But to what prrrpoFe? There is one-way T -would suggest by which any member of the Wellington Society can prove this question beyond cavil or doubt. Let a ran be bought or leased, preferably on the western bank of the Hunter River or Wanaka Lake — and stocked with 1500 or 2000 young sheep. One or two of the youngest and most enterprising members could be placed in charge, and one year, or at the most two, would resolve their doubts. It might be objected that euch a plan would entail heavy expenditure, but if a society places itself on a pinnacle and derides the knowledge of men who have seen andi know, its members should be prepared to face a little inconvenience and loss ho endeavouring to prove the assertions — rash or otherwise — which are made. It would perhaps have been preferable to prove them first ; but men who really wish to arrive at the truth- or to benefit mankind do not stay to consider what the sacrifices they make will entail to themselves. The medical profession is a conspicuous example, and many of its members, even in our own time, have not hesitated to give their bodies to lingering deaths in order ithat their profession and humanity might be the eoainer. In this case a lass of capital and comfort will probably ensue, but a vexed question, and one that has agitated amateurs for long enough, will have been decided. Professor Marriner, of Christchui'ch, made earnest endeavours to hay« the matter settled, but his efforts, though on the right lines, hardly went far enough. Personal investigation would have been preferable, as many who might have answered his circular letter neglected doing so. Unless a course such as I have suggested is adopted, the matter resolves itself into assertion and denial ; and to prevent an agitation for the protection of birds responsible for a heavy annual loss, it is desirable fhalt the question be finally settled. Owing to heavy losses and. the low price formerly ruling for wool, many of the back-country runs have been abandoned by woolgrowers, and, almost unmolested, keas have thriven and multipi ied^ There is no Teason, therefore, to fear that the test will not be a fair one, i and, incidentally, those who undertake it will gain a far truer knowledge of the i characters, perita, and 1 sufferings of the originators of the "Wanaka legend" than at present they appear to poreess.