Causes of Death

Source Author Year Title Quote
Greymouth Star 2014 Laura Mills 2014 More kea poisoned in 1080 drop “The Department of Conservation says five out of 39 monitored kea have died of poisoning during the first field study using a bird repellent in an aerial 1080 operation near Otira. DOC has been trialling repellents after a number of kea deaths from 1080 poisoning. In 2008 seven died in the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier area, and in 2011 seven more died at Okarito”
Greymouth Star 2014 Laura Mills 2014 More kea poisoned in 1080 drop “Technical advisor threats Michelle Cowell said losing five birds was “naturally disappointing”…But overall the benefits to kea populations from pest control continue to outweigh the loss of individual birds to 1080”
Greymouth Star 2014 Laura Mills 2014 More kea poisoned in 1080 drop “Since 2008, 155 kea have been monitored through ten 1080 operations, with 20 (12.9%) recorded fatalities, DOC says”
Otago Daily Times Online News 13/10/14 Matthew Haggert 2014 Health of kea studied “A drop in kea population numbers has left Doc Wanaka biodiversity manager Stu Thorne “slightly” concerned…There had been no aerial drops of 1080 in their habitat around Wanaka, he said. Seven kea were given blood tests during the recent monitoring programme and the results all indicated “low to very low” levels of lead. Mr Thorne ruled out contact with people visiting the skifield as a possible cause of a decline in kea numbers. “There’s probably not any one single cause contributing to a decline, but I do think a growth in predator numbers could be significant. The presence of stoats in the alpine areas and “vulnerable” kea nesting habitats could be having an effect, he said”
Otago Daily Times Online News 13/10/14 Matthew Haggert 2014 Health of kea studied “Aerial 1080 drops in South Westland and other regions have been blamed for a decline in kea numbers. Seven kea died after ingesting 1080 around the Fox and Franz Josef areas, last year.”
Otago Daily Times Online News 10/02/14 Mark Price 2014 Kea-resistance on pellets “The birds that have taken a good mouthful of this stuff…have exhibited signs of temporary discomfort and been really put off the pellets”…asked if feeding chemicals to wild kea to make them sick might upset the public, Mr Kemp said the idea was better than seeing the birds dying from 1080 poisoning”
Academia 2014 Lorne Roberts 2014 Population estimates of wild Kea (Nestor notabilis) “…severe degradation of this environment from past agricultural practices and introduced browsing and predator species…continues to have an unknown impact on kea food availability”
Academia 2014 Lorne Roberts 2014 Population estimates of wild Kea (Nestor notabilis) “Continuing persecution by humans is also a threat to kea population stability. The most recent incident occurred at Arthur’s Pass where two juvenile males were shot and stapled to a sign…In 1995, 27 kea were also shot and dumped at the Fox Glacier dump…and those few birds identified as sheep killers continue to be culled by DoC staff.”
Academia 2014 Lorne Roberts 2014 Population estimates of wild Kea (Nestor notabilis) “…the winter study in particular will provide a valuable opportunity for advocacy of the species”
Academia 2014 Lorne Roberts 2014 Population estimates of wild Kea (Nestor notabilis) “7 paired field researchers/observers per site will survey a minimum of 4 ridges each…over an 8 day period in mid-January. This will be timed to co-incide with fledglings leaving the nest…Observers will…capture and band all kea where possible. Associated with satellite and radio tracking of individual birds, banding will be used…collection and storage of blood samples at the time of capture will provide samples for other organisations…Each paired group of researchers must therefore have combined experience in trapping, banding, blood collection and storage, and attachment of tracking equipment.”
Academia 2014 Lorne Roberts 2014 Population estimates of wild Kea (Nestor notabilis) “Kea…have survived despite little management and protection”
www.keaconservation.co.nz 16/01/2014 T. Orr-Walker 2014 Trialling of a surface bird repellent to deter kea from interfacing with human objects “Persecution of kea by people who consider the birds to be a pest is a significant issue for the species. In 2011 alone 5 kea were shot in Arthur’s Pass, 1 kea was shot in what appeared to be a related incident on the West Coast and two of our study birds in the Hawdon Valley (Arthur’s Pass) were found dead in suspicious circumstances.”
New Zealand Birds online – The digital encyclopaedia of New Zealand Birds Anon. 2014 Kea “Juveniles were probably disproportionately culled, being more gregarious, conspicuous, and inquisitive than adults”
Kea Conservation Trust Updates June 2014 Kea Conservation Trust 2014 Conflict issues continue – Queenstown and Motueka “conflict continues to be an issue for a number of communities around the South Island…with some groups accepting that kea are part if the environment they live in and others unwilling to make compromises for the birds.”
Kea Conservation Trust Updates June 2014 Kea Conservation Trust 2014 Conflict issues continue – Queenstown and Motueka “Kea were recent regular visitors at the Skyline Gondola in Queenstown throughout April and May, causing damage to chairlift cables, machinery and signs…personnel at the gondola also see the value of having the birds around and are keen to put a strategy in place …Unfortunately kea in the Motueka area have not been as well received with a number of people and businesses wanting them removed from the local area.”
Kea Conservation Trust updates 16/12/13 Kea Conservation Trust 2013 Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) Update “Bucket died in a stoat trap – she was a victim of her own intelligence and curiosity and we were devastated when we lost her. She was the matriarch of the colony – I will never forget the year she fledged two of the healthiest young I have ever seen…”
Kea Conservation Trust updates 16/12/13 Kea Conservation Trust 2013 Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) Update “Lance the kea, found at Candy’s Bend lookout on the 10th October with a sore foot was released back into Arthur’s Pass last Saturday minus one toe. Lance’s toe was broken and had to be amputated”
Kea Conservation Trust updates 16/12/13 Kea Conservation Trust 2013 Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) Update “The oldest known kea in captivity is 50 years old”
Otago Daily Times Online News 21/08/13 Ashleigh Stewart 2013 Kea killed in 1080 operation “Five kea have been killed in Arthur’s Pass in a 1080 operation attempting to protect the endangered and protected species…The deaths come after seven kea were killed at Fox Glacier after eating 1080 poison in 2008, wiping out almost half a group of the endangered parrot being monitored by DOC”.
Otago Daily Times Online News 21/08/13 Ashleigh Stewart 2013 Kea killed in 1080 operation “However DOC continues to maintain that pest control using 1080 benefits birds, including kea, by improving nesting success and the survival adult females”.
Otago Daily Times Online News 21/08/13 Ashleigh Stewart 2013 Kea killed in 1080 operation “Further research was now being undertaken to minimise the loss of the “particularly inquisitive” bird, DOC Technical Advisor on Threats Michelle Crowell said.”
Otago Daily Times Online News 21/08/13 Ashleigh Stewart 2013 Kea killed in 1080 operation “The repellent was used in a DOC pest control operation over 10,619 hectares around Otira and a nearby TBfree New Zealand operation at Taipo over 10, 130 hectares from June 26 to August 1.
Scientific American 21/01/13 Cristy Gelling 2013 BrainiacParrots Threatened by Widespread Lead Poisoning “Heavy metal tolerance varies between species, so it is possible that kea are relatively resistant to lead…Studies of other birds have shown that as lead exposure increases, the chance of death from other causes also increases; it makes animals less resistant to infectious diseases and easier for predators to catch.”
Nestor Notabilis 6 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Winter Advocacy Tour “These bags are stapled to the trees to control possums. DOC have noticed a number of these torn open top to bottom and all contents emptied and are concerned it may be kea (a kea was following one of the DOC workers when he was stapling these up trees). The issue of Ferrotox being accessed by kea was brought up at the Arthurs Pass (AP talk).”
Nestor Notabilis 6 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Winter Advocacy Tour “The West Coast has historically been a kea trouble spot with populations of kea heavily persecuted by locals or poisoned during 1080 aerial operations.”
Nestor Notabilis 6 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Nest Monitoring – Arthurs Pass “At the start of the 2011 season there were twenty-one kea radio tagged in the Hawdon valley, Arthurs Pass, to be monitored. Six transmitters were found to be in mortality mode (4 of which were adult breeding females). The loss of these birds significantly reduces the possible sample size of nests to monitor. Additionally, nine transmittered birds remained unaccounted for resulting in only six kea able to be followed. Three of these kea are adult females of which only one has been identified as attempting to breed (Queen Pow Pow). The other two females showed no indication of having active cavities or notable courtship or nesting behaviour. Nest cameras set up at the Queen Pow Pow’s nest showed that this nest was abandoned with an egg intact and this pair moved to another nest site which also did not produce chicks. Information gleaned from this nesting season appears to indicate that the high number of deaths of both adult and sub-adult birds may now be affecting productivity. A case in point is the late 2010 nesting by Mrs Moon (one chick fledged at the end of April 2011). Mrs Moon died one month later on 8 June 2011.
Nestor Notabilis 6 Matt Charteris 2012 Research Projects “…the issues impacting on this species; specifically predation, unintentional pest control by-kill, lead poisoning, feeding of kea by tourists, on-going persecution, sheep flagging and damage to human property”
Nestor Notabilis 6 Paul Harper 2012 DOC shocked five Kea shot dead “Under the Wildlife Act, it is a criminal offence to kill kea. Offenders could face a $100,000 fine or six months in prison.”
Nestor Notabilis 6 Paul Harper 2012 DOC shocked five Kea shot dead “The incident occurred in the same week that a dead kea was dumped on the driveway of a DOC staff member…”
Nestor Notabilis 6 Martin Curtis 2012 Making the Matukitki lead free “after Tasmin and Lorne’s advocacy visit…I immediately did a check on one of the huts in the Matukituki Valley and found to my horror that the historical cascade Hut that I look after still had lead nails in the roof”
Nestor Notabilis 6 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Letter from the Chair “2011 has been a challenging year…a number of extreme lows – kea shot in Arthur’s Pass, minimal nesting success at two key study sites and pest control related deaths on the West Coast…keas George and Jake – casualties of lead and leg-hold traps respectively”
Kea Conservation Trust Updates Dec 2012 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Kea killed on roads in Arthurs Pass “Road-associated injuries and deaths have become a serious issue in areas like Arthur’s Pass which sees high traffic numbers moving through the area particularly through the summer and winter months. Many of these visitors to the area are encouraging kea down to feed around roadways placing young kea in particular in an extremely vulnerable position”
Kea Conservation Trust Updates Dec 2012 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Kea killed on roads in Arthurs Pass “…to alert motorists of the issues with kea and other wildlife in the area as well as providing some general information on ways to safely interact with kea while still enjoying their unique character.”
Kea Conservation Trust Updates Dec 2012 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Injured Kea on the mend “Another two adult kea from Arthur’s Pass were found at the beginning of November by kea researchers and sent into Hornby vets in Christchurch for treatment for treatment of serious leg and pelvic injuries”.
Kea Conservation Trust Updates Dec 2012 T. Orr-Walker 2012 “Research with Impact – KCT winners at Unitec “A piece of research supported and funded by the KCT recently won the prize for the “Research with Impact” at the recent Unitec Research Symposium. The presentation…highlighted the likely effect of introducing bird repellents to reduce mortality of kea during aerial 1080 poison drops to control stoats, possums and rat populations…this was the research that was most clearly identified to have an impact on practice.”
Kea Conservation Trust Updates Dec 2012 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Field Projects – Nest monitoring updates “Corey Mosen revisited our survey nest sites during October and November. Here’s a quick comparison of each of the nests sites from his first visits in August/Sept…Nelson Lakes…2 nests now have 3 chicks total. Beryls nest has failed (with the loss of 2 chicks and one egg), Queen Pow Pow’s nest has been reduced from 3 chicks to two chicks and How’s nest has reduced from 1 chick and 1 egg to 1 egg and 1 chick. Pest visitation seems to be the main factor for nest failure.”
Kea Conservation Trust Updates Dec 2012 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Field Projects – Nest monitoring updates “Photos: Hawdon Valley Nests: A stoat is caught on the scout camera outside Hows nest and 2 chicks remaining in Queen Powpows nest from and original 3 chicks.”
Kea Conservation Trust Updates Dec 2012 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Decline of kea threatens alpine plants “As well as illegal hunting and pet trade activities, predation, competition for resources with introduced mammals and humans, lead poisoning and habitat degradation have led to the decline in the kea population, Dr Nelson said.”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Two- let the adventure begin! “Tomorrow, we were heading to the Hawdon Valley to check on a couple of nests and put bands and transmitters on some chicks- can’t wait!”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Three – Learning on the road “Today, we went to the Hawdon valley to check on two nests and attach satellite transmitters, weigh, measure, band, and take bloods from the birds…”
Otago Daily Times Online News 12/09/11 Otago Daily Times Online News 12/09/11 2011 Seven keas dead in the wake of 1080 work “A disappointed Department of Conservation has reported the deaths of seven keas following a recent 1080 pest control operation on the West Coast that was designed to prevent the birds eating poison baits.”
Otago Daily Times Online News 12/09/11 Otago Daily Times Online News 12/09/11 2011 Seven keas dead in the wake of 1080 work “Mr Costello said the recent kea deaths were “very disappointing”. “We know they are inquisitive birds but believed that a new baiting protocol would be successful in keeping kea safe”.
NZ J. Ecology 35: 229-235 R. G. Powlesland, L.R. Moran, D.M. Wooton 2011 Satellite tracking of kereru (Hemiphagia novaeseelandiae) in Southland, New Zealand: impacts, movements, home range “…kereru sometimes suffer post-handling shock (become grounded and unable to fly) following transmitter attachment…”
NZ J. Ecology 35: 229-235 R. G. Powlesland, L.R. Moran, D.M. Wooton 2011 Satellite tracking of kereru (Hemiphagia novaeseelandiae) in Southland, New Zealand: impacts, movements, home range “S-80578 was found on the ground in a weakened state on the fourth day after transmitter attachment”
NZ J. Ecology 35: 229-235 R. G. Powlesland, L.R. Moran, D.M. Wooton 2011 Satellite tracking of kereru (Hemiphagia novaeseelandiae) in Southland, New Zealand: impacts, movements, home range “Of the four kereru used in this study, the one that had never been handled before responded negatively to handling and transmitter attachment”
NZ J. Ecology 35: 229-235 R. G. Powlesland, L.R. Moran, D.M. Wooton 2011 Satellite tracking of kereru (Hemiphagia novaeseelandiae) in Southland, New Zealand: impacts, movements, home range “In most studies that have involved radio-tagging kereru the occasional bird has suffered from post-capture trauma, with some kereru becoming grounded within a few days of having a transmitter attached”
http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/cub/data Cornell University – Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2011 2011 NestWatch project “Do not approach nests when young are close to fledging: When the young are disturbed during this stage, they may leave the nest prematurely. Young that fledge prematurely usually do not stay in the nest prematurely despite attempts to put them back, and their survival rates away from or outside the nest are low. So when young birds are fully feathered and very alert, only observe the nest from a distance.”
http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/cub/data Cornell University – Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2012 2011 NestWatch project “Be wary of nest predators. Avoid leaving tracks that can direct predators to nests. Nest predators are everywhere- on the ground, in vegetation, and in the air- and many are smart enough to watch you…Also try not to damage or trample vegetation that could expose nests”
http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/cub/data Cornell University – Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2013 2011 NestWatch project “Don’t leave a dead-end trail: if you plan on visiting the nest frequently, try to take a different route away from the nest site than the route you took to reach it. Walking to the nest and back along the same path leaves a dead-end trail that can lead predators directly to the nest.”
The adventures of PK Maebo & Jimjam 9/2/09 Jaimie Stewart 2009 Kea catching “The kea was then “processed”, you know, like processed food. Out of Franny’s bag of tricks came a radiotransmitter, with nylon string to attach it, a beak-measuring device, scales and other fandangos…Oh yeah, I was going to talk abut 1080 and keas. Well the story as far as I can make out is that despite years of scepticism from DOC scientists, recent studies of mortality following an aerial 1080 drop have shown keas dying from 1080 poisoning…One point it is always worth making is that much of the 1080 poisoning in NZ is undertaken by the Animal Health Board in its ongoing battle with TB…But whatever way this does seem to be a big problem. Don’t quote me on this, but abut 1/3 of the keas habitat is under rotational TB control. Alarm bells seem to be ringing and DOC has teamed up with Landcare Research to investigate an effective bird repellent. It will be interesting to see what happens and if the planned drop in Okarito forest goes ahead”
ERMA Appendix N Table N7 2007 ERMA 2007 NZ land birds susceptible t non-recovery if subject to significant impacts and recent monitoring after 1080″ “Species: Kea; Risk of non-recovery: high; Research priority in 1997 and rationale: High priority- infrequent exposure but will eat carrot bait…Monitoring…after aerial 1080 operations…Dobson Valley 1963 – 4 dead Kea”
NZ J Ecology 29: 69-82 D. Kelly et al. 2005 Can stoat (Mustela erminea) trapping increase bellbird (Anthornis melanura) populations and benefit misteltoe (Peraxilla tetrapetala) pollination? “…the Department of Conservation carried out a small experimental programme in the treatment area using cholecalciferol-poisoned eggs”
NZ Dept of Conservation Internal Science Series 181 Graeme Elliot & Josh Kemp 2004 Effect of hunting and predation on kea, and a method of monitoring kea populations “During the breeding season (July-January) we repeatedly searched for every radio-tagged adult in our study until we found its nest, were confident it was not nesting, found its body, or concluded it had migrated out of our study area…Once it was found, we checked each nest every 2-3 weeks until it either failed or the chicks had fledged”
NZ Dept of Conservation Internal Science Series 181 Graeme Elliot & Josh Kemp 2004 Effect of hunting and predation on kea, and a method of monitoring kea populations “To use the destruction of kea as a tool in their management we would need to be confident that the population was stable or increasing and safe from extinction. The destruction of kea by the Department of Conservation staff is only justifiable when the failure to kill some birds would result in a much larger illegal kill of kea”
NZ Dept of Conservation Internal Science Series 181 Graeme Elliot & Josh Kemp 2004 Effect of hunting and predation on kea, and a method of monitoring kea populations “However our failure to identify the cause of most nest failures means that predator control could easily be focussed on the wrong predators. The highest priority for future kea research should be to identify the causes of nest failure”
NZ Dept of Conservation Internal Science Series 181 Graeme Elliot & Josh Kemp 2004 Effect of hunting and predation on kea, and a method of monitoring kea populations “About 150,000 kea were intentionally killed between 1870 and 1948… and although kea hunting dramatically decreased when kea became protected, a few birds are still killed by Department of Conservation staff when they attack sheep, and an unknown number are illegally killed. Conservation managers need to know whether this continued “harvest” is sustainable or whether kea need some positive conservation management”
WWF-NZ Final Report 1 August 1999 64pp G. Elliot & J. Kemp 1999 Conservation ecology of kea (Nestor notabilis) “Kea nests appear to be relatively immune to predation from introduced mammals…Our results agree with a previous study of kea nesting at Arthur’s Pass, where no evidence of significant nest predation was found (Jackson 1963).”
WWF-NZ Final Report 1 August 1999 64pp G. Elliot & J. Kemp 1999 Conservation ecology of kea (Nestor notabilis) “This study is designed to assess the likelihood that nest predators are causing an ongoing decline in kea abundance”
MSC Thesis, Linoln University R. Brejaart 1994 Aspects of the Ecology of kea, Nestor notabilis (Gould) at Arthur’s Pass and Craigieburn Valley. “…at Arthur’s Pass, kea suffered injury and death as a result of human activity”
MSC Thesis, Linoln University R. Brejaart 1994 Aspects of the Ecology of kea, Nestor notabilis (Gould) at Arthur’s Pass and Craigieburn Valley. “While the effects of anthropogenic foods on kea are as yet unknown, dead kea have been found at rubbish dumps where they feed”
MSC Thesis, Linoln University R. Brejaart 1994 Aspects of the Ecology of kea, Nestor notabilis (Gould) at Arthur’s Pass and Craigieburn Valley. “During the study period, 10 kea were found dead at Arthur’s Pass. At Craigieburn, one adult kea (sex unknown) flew into a garage door and subsequently died… Causes of death for the Arthur’s Pass kea included roadkills (5), unidentified illness resulting in death (1), and ingestion of a rubbery substance (1)…In addition to the dead kea, three injured kea were found. One immature male had its legs tangled up in nylon fishing line in Craigieburn Valley. Two injured kea (one immature male and one unidentified) were found at Halpin’s Creek Dump site at Arthur’s Pass, but the cause of their injuries was unknown”.
Notornis 39: 151-160 A. Bond & J. Diamond 1992 Population estimates of Kea in Arthur’s Pass National Park “…true juvenile mortality could be in the order of 50%. This would accord with the substantial winter mortality (68%) noted by Jackson (1969) in first-year birds.”
Notornis 39: 151-160 A. Bond & J. Diamond 1992 Population estimates of Kea in Arthur’s Pass National Park “It seems likely that the Halpin Creek dump, indeed, the entire Bealey Valley, is a population sink for dispersing juveniles, providing a reliable food source for animals that have not yet developed adult foraging skills.”
Papers in Behaviour Biological Sciences Paper 45 1991 J. Diamond & A. Bond 1991 Social Behaviour and the Ontogeny of Foraging in the Kea (Nestor notabilis) “Kea were captured with a manually operated drop-net…”
NZ J Ecology 5: 59-66 C.M. King & C.D. McMillan 1982 Population structure and dispersal of peak-year cohorts of stoats (Mustela erminea) in two New Zealand forests, with especial reference too control “Of the 134 stoats marked, 56 were never recaptures, and one died during tagging.”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “It would seem that starvation is the main cause of death; that all keas have experience of disease and injury; and perhaps most keas have eluded predators”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “A bad season, as 1957-58 summer, can greatly reduce the number of Keas but again is not the immediate cause of death. Where keas and men meet, man directly and indirectly causes the death of many Keas. Man is certainly the most important predator”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “If a kea is shot where Keas are protected the culprit is reluctant to admit it, however, many have been generous enough when they noticed the kea had been banded to report its death. Especially suspect is the category “run over””.
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “Of two other keas, which “scoured” and died, one had an empty gut and was a very light weight; and the second may have been poisoned. The kea with a dislocated shoulder is listed separately for birds seldom dislocate a wing but rather break a bone. It is suspected that muscular necrosis had set in, as described below, as in some keas taken into captivity about the same time. The big group of natural deaths includes skeletons found hidden under tussocks and moraine boulders, away from human habitation and where the Kea presumably crept to die.”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “Two of the starving Keas…died within one week of banding. They had been very light at banding…”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “In the autumn as nesting finishes adult Keas may die, as they go into moult, perhaps in poor condition. The greatest mortality for all Keas is June to September when food is most scarce”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “These tables show the large loss of Keas in their first year, especially soon after banding. Some of these Keas were inexperienced, recently fledged Keas. Others were banded and died in the spring when there is a large moving population, spurred by hunger”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “Also in August and September adult Keas move further from their homes for these are the hungriest months.”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “This suggests that in May a heavy mortality of inexperienced light-weight young keas occurs. The maximum for adults is a month later; their skill probably enables them to find food for a month longer than the first-year keas”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “The bad Season – October 1957-May 1958…in each month the rainfall was greatly above average, especially from October to March, probably the significant months for the Kea…December was the worst month…There were frequent storms…This period caused a great reduction in the Kea population. Perhaps it was reduced to two thirds normal…Chicks were found dead in their nests, eating of eggs was first noticed, and many parent Keas disappeared. Usual foods failed. That summer there was little nectar, and the following winter few berries. Starvation was the immediate cause of death of many Keas that summer”.
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “Keas are afflicted with disease as other living flesh…Here it is relevant to mention that bites by Kea fleas cause pustules on me which take a week or more to heal, quite unlike ordinary flea bites; apparently the severe bite is caused by the staphylococci carried by these fleas.”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “Perhaps the most serious parasite is the flea. Autumn nests are very heavily infested. Often the fleas carry large numbers of mites, part of the nest fauna..the very large nest fauna includes mites, flies…Staphylinid and Dermatisid beetles”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “The large number of band injuries were caused not by the band being put on improperly but because a band prevents normal swelling of the leg, following a foot injury.”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “Certainly injury would seem as important as illness as a cause of death.”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “Predators: Several times I have seen Falcons attack Keas but always unsuccessfully. When a Falcon attacks a single Kea, the Kea rolls over and parries the blow, and at the first opportunity falls into the cover of the forest or the shelter of a large boulder. Similarly when Keas hear a Falcon they take shelter.”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “And when in the open on a river flat or above the bush line they carefully watch any large bird flying high above. To do this it is necessary for them to twist the head sideways and while in this stance all the Kea’s attention is occupied.”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “The relationship of Black-backed gulls and Keas is uneasy…in the air these gulls do not hesitate to attack a single Kea.”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “Keas take no notice of Wekas…however a Weka could attack an unguarded nest”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “During the last hundred years Keas have shared their environment with rats Rattus spp. And stoats Mustela erminea. I have found no evidence of these animals affecting Keas. ..Twice I have found a dead possum Trichosaurus vulpecula within five yards of a Kea nest. The opossum frequently chooses holes similar to a kea nest as a den and perhaps these two opossums prospected the Kea nests.
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “Grossly underweight Keas are at the bottom of the peck order and among these Keas a haemolytic anaemia develops…”
Notornis 16: 33-44 J R Jackson 1969 What do keas die of? “On occasion, the Kea hen destroys her own eggs and chicks…I have known five nests where the eggs have been eaten and one where the chicks were trodden into the floor of the nest. In the latter case many Keas were about when the chicks were killed. The hen left this nest to make a new nest two miles away…”
Notornis X: 319-326 J R Jackson 1963 The nesting of Keas “Some hens, if the observer sits on their promontory while they are nesting, get very excited. They fly in a zig-zag flight close over or around under the promontory, swing out 100 yards on either side and call loudly all the time, perhaps a quarter of an hour. The cock during this display remains further back”
Notornis X: 319-326 J R Jackson 1963 The nesting of Keas “Four of the 8 nests were failures. In two cases the eggs were eaten after the nests had been found. Other evidence suggests the Keas had been incubating these eggs for a long time. In the second two cases when the nest was found the eaten remains of the eggs were already there”
Notornis X: 319-326 J R Jackson 1963 The nesting of Keas “Many of the young cocks do not remain mated to their wives. He moves on but the hen remains, using the nest for her life.”
Notornis X: 319-326 J R Jackson 1963 The nesting of Keas “Other less successful hens fail to mate in their second year. Such a hen often sends much time with a hen busy building. It is possible that the young hen learns much from watching the old hen closely.”
Notornis X: 319-326 J R Jackson 1963 The nesting of Keas “After several years building her nest a Kea lays and immediately begins incubating.”
Notornis X: 319-326 J R Jackson 1963 The nesting of Keas “At least three of my seventeen nests with chicks have been discovered by falcons…The parents chase the falcons away. Also visiting Kea are very interested in the nestlings and the parents drive them away from the last five yards of the nest with much noise. I suspect that visiting Keas destroyed the young chicks two or three weeks old in one nest.”
Notornis IX: 39-58 J R Jackson 1960 Keas at Arthurs Pass “This account describes territory, food and an estimate of population…Most of the Keas have been caught and banded at Arthurs Pass…or Temple Basin…in winter time when they are hungry and easily attracted with butter; indeed the refuse in the rubbish dumps has already attracted them as scavengers to these places.”
Notornis IX: 39-58 J R Jackson 1960 Keas at Arthurs Pass “A pair does not mind other Keas within 25 yards of their nest. If there are chicks in the nest, visiting Keas are intensely interested in the chicks’ calls.”
Trans. Royal NZ Inst. 39: 71-89 W.B. Benham 1907 Notes on the Flesh-eating Propensity of the Kea (Nestor notabilis) “I will quote from some of my correspondents’ letters in answer to my questions…A. Fraser writes, “I have seen the kea attacking the sheep and also eating into a sheep when the latter was stuck in deep snow”…J.H. King says, “The kea would harass them until one bird would suddenly alight on a sheep’s back, holding on to the wool of the rump. The sheep so attacked would separate from the mob and rush frantically about: it would either go over a bluff or drop down from exhaustion.”