The Mischievous Kaka

Forest and Bird, Issue 92, 1 May 1949, Page 15

The Mischievous Kaka

By

A. McANALLY

TT was many years ago on the edge of the bush x in the heart of the King Country that I saw my first kaka. We were very isolated, and our only means of communication was a bush tram that ran up from Mananui, a small town some miles from Taumaranui. There were only a few Maori houses, a cook house and the house of the bush contractor. It was at this house that the kaka made himself at home. He would fly in from the bush and hop round the back door. Then he got a little bolder and came, inside, peering round the kitchen; but at no time were we able to handle him. He would stay quite a long time and came practically every day. But we soon learned to be on the watch when we heard

his peculiar half scream, as he got very destructive. He would knock any dishes off the table, or off a bench outside, and had a particular aversion to cupsthey always went first. Also he would chew up any pens or pencils left lying about and tear a newspaper to bits. One day he met his match. We had a hut outside, and it appears he decided to go in there and look round. Evidently the first object he saw was a plug of tobacco, as some time after we saw him frantically trying to turn on an outside tap. He had torn the tobacco to pieces and was reaping the consequences with a very hot tongue and dry throat. As far as I know, he continued to come until my friends left the district.