THE KEA’S CURIOUS HABITS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1931, Page 3

THE KEA’S CURIOUS HABITS

DENIZENS* OF SOUTHERN ALPS.

REDUCTION IN NUMBERS NOTICED. For many years keas have carried prices on their heads and have earned a reputation as dangerous marauders of back-country sheep stations. Hundreds have been killed as a result, and it is noticeable, says the Christchurch Press, that even in the sanctuaiy in the Mt. Cook area the number of keas to be seen is greatly reduc.rl as compared w'Lti even a few years ago. < In the rocky fastnesses of the South ern Alps the visitor has a splendid .opportunity to study these mountain parrots and their habits, and after the recent Aorangi ski championships there were ’ many people who stayed at the Ball Hut for the events who now realise that this bird is one of the most interesting in the Dominion. With their red facings on the breast and under the wings the keas are beautiful as they hover and settle around the hut and even on it to live on the scraps that are offering during the heavy snow season. “John”—stated to be the most experienced Yea in this section of the ranges as to contact with humans —is still living on the slopes behind the hut, and as he cheekily perches on the window-sill of any window of the hut, attracts there also about six'others, of his family to show off for the benefit of tourists. -J'

In their antics these birds can be studied for hours from the rocky prominence on which this base is established, and that study provided many an interesting interlude for tier ski-ers after an exciting lay on the Tasman or Ball glaciers. Their reputation ffs destroyers these birds maintain and it is not safe td leave any article outside overnight. Skistraps and other leather equipments they tear to pieces with remarkably strong beaks. It is stated that any fullgrown kea can sever a man’s fingers or a thick stick, and certainly the ‘sight of thick leather thongs and stray garments ripped £o ribbons testifies -to that strength. Keas have often opened tinned food to secure a meal for themselves. They gather round the article to be attacked and as if at some silent given signal commence a magnificent: mill, which appears as something between a miniture Rugby scrum, at ; wrestling match, and a • tug-of-war. While the party was. at the hut this week on one accasion a ski was. carried over the precipitous slopes as the result of one morning’s foray outside the Ball Hut, and each - successive morning the keas would arrive at the windows of the building at a very early ‘hour to announ e >the. dawn' with a screeching

chorus.. << There was one visitor to Mt. Cook some time ago who had reason to regret his carelessness in leaving a new sports coat out all night. In the morn-, ing the keas had not left a piece of it that was over two inches wide and had torn the cloth vertically and horizontally. .There is another interesting record of kea chcekiness. It is a photograph taken of one. of the birds severing a man’s bootlaces while he slept.

Besides their natural instincts for destructiveness the keas in the Mt. Cook sectiqn of the Southern Alps delight in sports organised and carried out by themselves. Whether this is as a result of contact with humans who hold ski championships’ there has not yet been definitely established. Their sport is an abridged form of modern wrestling arid by what could be seen amid the flying snow no.particular holds were, barred. The plan of events for the eiiteriainmept,,is.that one kea lies on.its back on the snow holding both legs aloft with talons bared. One other—-in some cases two others —circles it and then with a lightning dash tries to batter the one on the ground. Apparently? the rules only allow the kea attacked to use the outstretched legs and talons. for protection. It does only that at any rate and after a fast few seconds in which snow flies in all directions the combatants separate, each adjourns to a nearby i prominence and it seeihs that they laugh at each other. It is. one of the most amusing sights that can be seen among bird’ life. At times ths . screeching becomes almost human aud resembles the parrot imitation ' very closely. After a continuance ;of this hearty entertainment for a short period the bout on the snow recommences, the keas taking turn about on their back in the snow.

.The birds/ will also play for hours before a mirror placed for their bene-, fit in the snow. v: In the summer the keas live on berries and seeds and are to bo > found high up the mountains. At the -Malte Brun hut there are always plenty of the birds in that season of the year. In the winter the Ball Hut is the highest point where they may be seen in any numbers, although they forage for many miles from' that base.

One .strange feature is that the guides state that a kea has rarely been seem to touch the rabbits which abound even well above .the snow level. Keas often become very tame and are considered by the guides and packmen to be splendid companions as they circle them in their lonely tramps from one base to another. They have been known to talk after long teaching in captivity, but not nearly so well as other parrots. .