Nesting

Source Author Year Title Quote
Surfbirds.com 2014 The Association of County Recorders and Editors 2014 The birdwatchers’ code “The interests of the bird come first. Birds respond to people in many ways, depending on the species, location and time of year. Disturbance can keep birds from their nests, leaving chicks hungry or enabling predators to take eggs or young…Intentional or reckless disturbance of some species at or near the nest is illegal in Britain.
Surfbirds.com 2014 The Association of County Recorders and Editors 2014 The birdwatchers’ code “Disturbance is not just about going too close – a flock of wading birds on the foreshore can be disturbed from a mile away if you stand on the sea wall.”
Surfbirds.com 2014 The Association of County Recorders and Editors 2014 The birdwatchers’ code “Repeatedly playing a recording of birdsong or calls to encourage a bird to respond can divert a territorial bird from other important duties, such as feeding its young. Never use playback to attract a species during its breeding season.”
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.”
DoC 07/05/2014 DoC 2014 DOC code of practice for aerial 1080 in kea habitat “…toxic bait application must take place before 31st August in the post-seedfall year (i.e. Prior to kea nesting)”
DoC 07/05/2014 DoC 2014 DOC code of practice for aerial 1080 in kea habitat “…stoats are the main predators of kea.”
Kea Conservation Trust updates 16/12/13 Kea Conservation Trust 2013 Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) Update “Four of these nests contained eggs at that time while the other three contained chicks (exact numbers unknown). By the end of November 3 of these nests had failed with the 4 active nests containing a total of 7 chicks evenly spread between Nelson Lakes and the Hawdon Valley in Arthurs Pass.
Kea Conservation Trust updates 16/12/13 Kea Conservation Trust 2013 Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) Update “At Nelson Lakes, “Ceejay” is still sitting on 1 chick (pictured to the right)…and Rachel is sitting on 2 chicks. If both nests are successful, it will be the first time that more than one nest per year has avoided predation. Both nests are surrounded by a network of stoat and possum traps…which may be contributing to this success”
Kea Conservation Trust updates 16/12/13 Kea Conservation Trust 2013 Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) Update “In the Hawdon Valley both How and Beryls nests each contain 2 chicks. At last visit they were all looking very healthy. KCT field co-ordinator, Corey Mosen, will be going back into both areas during December, so we will post updates on Facebook as we receive them”
Kea Conservation Trust updates 16/12/13 Kea Conservation Trust 2013 Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) Update “January is a busy time for us with our annual summer surveys running throughout January. This year we will have our workers and keen KCT volunteers up the mountains counting kea at Kiwi Saddle (Kahurangi National Park) and Kowhai Saddle (in the Kaikoura Mountains). Corey Mosen, our field co-ordinator will be directing both sites which will see up to a dozen people at each site locating tranmsmittered kea, attaching transmitters to any new birds and recording sightings and calls of kea early each morning and early evening for 10 days at each site.”
Kea Conservation Trust updates 16/12/13 Kea Conservation Trust 2013 Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) Update “4/10/13 To protect our native mountain parrot, Dulux New Zealand has today committed $150,000 directly towards a programme supporting the conservation of the endangered kea, as part of the company’s Protecting Our Place partnership with the Department of Conservation. Over the next three years, Dulux will work closely with the Kea Conservation Trust to help fund their nest monitoring programme, to ensure this iconic creature will be protected for years to come.”
www.keaconservation.co.nz T. Orr-Walker 2013 Inspiring communities to protect kea, the world’s only mountain parrot “Kea are caught up where possible, biodata collected, bloods taken (to test for avian diseases and/or lead levels) and identification bands and transmitters attached (depending on sex and life stage). Females are attached with egg-timer transmitters to aid in detection of nesting behaviour”
DoC G. Harper et. Al. 2013 Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project Annual Report 2011-12 “Kea (Nestor notabilis) nest protection was initiated in spring 2011 at three nest sites, but was established too late in the season for two nests, which failed due to possum (Trichosaus vulpecula) interference.”
Nestor Notabilis 6 Kea Conservation Trust. Ed. T. Orr-Walker 2012 2011- The highs and lows in brief February-March “Five nest cameras were purchased and placed at nest sites in Arthurs Pass and Nelson Lakes as part of the Wellington Zoo Conservation Fund nest monitoring and tracking project. It is hoped these will capture footage of the kea nesting activity as well as any pest visitation events”
Nestor Notabilis 6 Kea Conservation Trust. Ed. T. Orr-Walker 2012 2011- The highs and lows in brief April-May “Nest monitoring cameras placed in Nelson Lakes and Arthurs Pass clearly show possums visiting kea nests raising concerns about chick survivorship this year.”
Nestor Notabilis 6 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Nest Monitoring – Arthurs Pass and Nelson lakes “Both areas are integral to a larger population research project which has been run annually for three years in Nelson-Lakes (2009-2011) and four years in Arthurs Pass (2009-2012). This census work aims to establish the density and stability of kea populations in a number of key areas which are subject to different pest management regimes. The nest monitoring and tracking project will provide crucial supporting information”
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 T. Orr-Walker 2012 Nest Monitoring – Nelson lakes “…a light aircraft was used to radio track birds (thanks to in-kind support from DOC). Seven kea are present radio tagged in Nelson lakes- two of these are adult females, Ceejay (mate Kelly recently deceased) and Aphrodite…The three identified breeding pairs (confirmed through the 2000-2011 summer survey and 2010 nest monitoring efforts) were followed and their nest cavities identified. Out of a seven possible nest sites, three cavities were confirmed by September 2011. Cameras were set up inside and outside each nest area and images taken throughout the breeding season. Only one of the breeding pairs, Ceejay and Kelly, successfully fledged chicks as follows: Nest site 3 successfully fledged three chicks early in December 2011; Nest site 26 most likely failed due to possum predation; Nest Site 8 was found to be infertile. Unfortunately, Kelly, Ceejay’s mate, was recovered dead during the nesting period (necropsy report cause of “sudden death” -unknown)”
Nestor Notabilis 6 Corey Mosen 2012 Kea Survey – Kiwi saddle, Kahurangi National Park “During the period of 16-24 January 2012 a kea census was conducted by a group of 12 people in the Kahurangi National Park…All keas activity was recorded the majority of sites were surveyed twice and followup visits to the site were conducted if there was significant sign of kea. One potential nest cavity was visited and there was an attempt to catch the female who was perched close to the site….Four fledglings were caught and transmitters attached…There was quite significant kea activity at the top of the Gibbs track with at least six unbanded birds…Attempts were made to catch as many of these as possible with one team devoting two nights to this task.
Nestor Notabilis 6 Paul van Klink 2012 Kea Survey – Hawdon Valley, Arthurs Pass “Of these 11 kea, four had transmitters attached to them including one which has a satellite transmitter (two fledglings, two adult females)..Two nests/cavities were visited during the survey. One was not active (Moon’s nest 20/10/11) and How’s 2011/12 nest appears to have failed.
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.”
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…”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Three – Learning on the road “Kea parents in the wild behave just like keas in captivity! They make the same call when their nest is disturbed; they show the same postures and behaviours like throwing things at you; and they are very curious”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Four – the days are just packed! “Day 4 was a trip up to CeeJay’s nest, which was empty – she seems to be only nesting every second year. We also saw and attempted to catch a male that was hanging around the nest, but he wasn’t having a bar of that! CeeJay has a transmitter attached as she is a breeding female, however today her transmitter was doing a lot of crazy things which made for some fun for Cory to figure out what was going on!”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Four – the days are just packed! “When we were checking the nest, I got to crawl inside. It was really interesting, as the cavity was a lot different to what I expected! It was long- I crawled more than my whole body length in – and it was narrow! I had to go in a bit like superman with my arms out in front of me.”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Four – the days are just packed! “We weren’t expecting a chick, as there is no predator control in this area and her last two nests have been raided. But to our surprise, there was a wee chick there! I say wee but he weighed over 1000g. Cory got him out and we weighed, banded, took bloods and feathers and measured him. We attached a satellite transmitter as part of Erin’s work.”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Four – the days are just packed! “It was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, his head was really fluffy with baby feathers and was very soft…I also had a first while I was there, I got to take the blood from the chick! Very very cool experience”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Five – Telemetry and transmitters “When we have been visiting all the kea nests, they have each had motion sensor trail cameras outside them and we get to see the pictures that are taken outside the nests. The possums that the 1080 are targeting are frequent visitors to most of the Kea nests we checked.”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Five – Telemetry and transmitters “On Monday, we travelled back to Nelson Lakes National Park to check out two more nests. Unfortunately one had been raided by predators, but the other nest was exciting – with two chicks and Dad in the cavity.”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Five – Telemetry and transmitters “We attached transmitters, weighed, measured, took feathers and blood and banded these chicks too”.
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Five – Telemetry and transmitters “Tomorrow we are going to check out a tip from a tourist who heard some kea up in an area where there was no known nest. It sounded like a female defending a nest, so it will be cool to see if we can find a new nest!”
Wellington Zoo Sarah 2012 Part Six – The end of the trip “We had heard from someone that they had been near the hut and heard a Kea vocalising a lot, in a way which made Cory think maybe there is a nest up there. So out we went with some kea calls and a telemetry aerial to see if we could find any kea out there. While we were there, we also checked another old nest. Unfortunately we didn’t find anything”
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 “Tracking work showed up to 60% of kea nests were attacked by predators”
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 “The research programme also monitored nests through the breeding season to assess whether safer conditions for kea chicks outweighed risks to individual birds”
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.”
Kea Conservation Trust Updates Feb 2011 Kea Conservation Trust 2011 Summer Survey- Preliminary results “The annual summer survey was a great success with a total of 40 people taking part in the field over the 3 survey sites.”
Kea Conservation Trust Updates Feb 2011 Kea Conservation Trust 2011 Nest Monitoring and tracking (Arthurs Pass and Nelson Lakes) “This research at two of the three kea summer survey sites aims to support the summer population research by following up on tracking of radio tagged kea at each of the sites and check the status of known nests throughout the breeding season.”
The adventures of PK Maebo & Jimjam 9/2/09 Jaimie Stewart 2009 Kea catching “A quick boat ride across Lake Mapourika in the early morning, a casual walk through the forest to Alpine Lake and a thrilling chopper ride out to Franz, back-loading on the DOC Meet the Locals TV crew. It has great been in the bush. We stopped regularly while Fanny and Brent released their pre-recorded birdsong on the jungle.”
Otago Daily Times Online News 07/05/09 Otago Daily Times Online News 07/05/09 2009 Help needed in kea count “The trust has been organising biannual counts of kea populations for the last two years- last winter more than 70 people registered across the South Island. Ms Orr-Walker said the winter counts were “a fun thing to do – kea move down from higher places as food runs out; and they are also in their nesting phase””
Forest & Bird The Green Room Forest & Bird 2009 Keas for Keeps “the presence of these young birds seen today shows that without the disastrous impact of stoats and possums that kill most kea chicks on their nests, our Southern South Westland keas here are prospering”
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 “We made regular visits to the ski field car park during June to October ski season each year between 1992 and 1999 to capture, radio-tag and band kea that gathered there to scavenge and steal food from skiers…we also banded and radio tagged nearly fledged chicks from any accessible nests we found, particularly in January 1998 and 1999”
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 “We radio-tagged eleven near-fledgling chicks during three summers of our study and in three subsequent summers we flew at 2500-3500 m, in a radio-telemetry equipped fixed wing aircraft over all forested mountains within a 50-km radius of the nests. Following the flight, we visited all of the birds on foot to see if they were alive. We assumed the birds we could not find from the air had migrated out of our search area…”
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 “We captured and radio-tagged 39 kea which we monitored for an average of 2.5 years each. We found 44 nests in 25 sites and were able to assess the nesting success of 40 of them.”
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 “The first eggs were laid in late July and the last chicks usually fledged by January”
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 “Eggs and chicks disappeared from 35% of the nests we monitored and at two of these nests definite sign of stoat predation was found”
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 “The main   potential predators of kea nests in montane beech forests in the northern South Island are stoats and possums…The only nest failure we can confidently attribute to a specific predator was caused by a stoat”
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”
The Auk: 118 504 N. Verboven et al. 2001 Effect of investigator disturbance on nest attendance and egg predation in Eurasian Oystercatchers “Predation events are seldom witnessed, and visiting nests to check the contents necessarily results in disturbance of the individuals being studied. Moreover, investigator disturbance may increase the probability of nest predation (Elser and Grand 1993), human scent (Whelan et al. 1994), or nest markers (Picozzi 1995, Yahner and Wright 1985). Human disturbance may also reduce nest attendance or enhance conspicuous behaviour of the parents.”
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) “Nest predation did not increase in the breeding season following full beech mast-seeding in 1995, when stoat (Mustela erminea) numbers were beginning to rise”
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? “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? “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? “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? “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 “Keas nest on the ground under a boulder, in a crevice, in a hollow log or among the roots of the tree.”
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 “Keas nest in the beech forest and more sparsely in the sub-alpine scrub. In Westland Keas usually nest well down in the rata…”
Notornis X: 319-326 J R Jackson 1963 The nesting of Keas “…a protracted laying period, certainly from July to January inclusive…”
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 “When the chicks hatch he is nearby and is greatly thrilled at their calls. He coos quietly in reply”
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 X: 319-326 J R Jackson 1963 The nesting of Keas “When two or three weeks fledged, the male chicks follow their father and meet his other wives. Now a wife who has been building will guard the chick and be his stepmother. They, chick and stepmother, play in flight. She leads him away from danger…”
Notornis X: 319-326 J R Jackson 1963 The nesting of Keas behaviour, play, flying
Notornis X: 319-326 J R Jackson 1963 The nesting of Keas “While the first wife is incubating the cock pays more attention to his other wives. One cock certainly had two wives, both nesting at the same time, the second being four weeks behind the first. Another cock, the boss along three miles of the Bealey Valley, had seven wives. He would roost in the trees near an incubating hen. At daybreak he would feed for two or three hours nearby. During the next five hours he would spend half an hour with each hen, look at her nest to see the progress and feed her. For three or four hours he would rest in the early afternoon and then return to the incubating hen. This life is very hard and he will be noticed losing condition. In January and February he will still be in old worn plumage, while his wives have new bright green feathers”
Notornis IX: 39-58 J R Jackson 1960 Keas at Arthurs Pass “In the early afternoon most days throughout the year the hen will be in the tree-tops close to the nest, sunning herself. The cock will be further away but within earshot.”
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.”
Notornis IX: 39-58 J R Jackson 1960 Keas at Arthurs Pass “Yet a frequent call is the territorial call, also used as a threat to a man walking along the road, or even a railcar passing by.”
Notornis IX: 39-58 J R Jackson 1960 Keas at Arthurs Pass “A pair perched in the tree-tops high on the valley walls will see another family flying along the valley below them, or the neighbouring hen flying into her nest across the valley, when they will give the “Kua-ua-ua-ua” call. A similar call, “kuer” is used by a Kea flying in search of its mate in the tree-tops, to elicit a response. Or as a Kea settles to roost “kuer” draws replies from its neighbours and shows all is well.”
Notornis IX: 39-58 J R Jackson 1960 Keas at Arthurs Pass “July: Heavy falls of snow cover much ground and Keas feed in the forest and on the forest floor. First eggs laid…October: Peak of laying. Adults very shy and quiet…December: Earliest fledglings I have noticed. Most adult females are either with a clutch or building a nest”
Notornis 6: 24-25 L.W. McCaskill 1954 A Keas nest “On January 29, 1954 I was inspecting part of the Arthur Pass National Park in company with the ranger, Mr Ray Cleland…we were surprised to see a kea perch near us in dense beech forest…Further inspection disclosed the entrance to the tunnel with a well-worn track…a little excavation enabled us to remove the adult bird. On release she flew to her perch and proceeded to screech almost continuously. The young replied to her with the same harsh screech…After replacing the young birds, the outside of the nesting chamber was restored as nearly as possible to its original condition”