The difference between young (juvenile) and adult kea is much more obvious. An adult kea (4 years+) has dark colouration around the eyes, nostrils and beak. Q. Keas are one of the only 10 parrot species which live in New Zealand. The kea’s plumage (feathers) is generally an olive – emerald green edged with black and bright orange and barred yellow and black feathers are normally hidden on the underside of its wings. This can be very hard work particularly if it is snowing hard outside. Around 10% of the local kea population were expected to be over 20 years of age. The kea is an omnivore. From 1967-1992 the kea featured on the New Zealand $10 note. the more investigative behaviours identified in a bird the higher its blood lead levels were likely to be. Those that do make it are sexually mature at 3 years old. Some scientists even think that they might be as smart as a 4 year old child! If so, why? [11][12][14][15], The kea is a large parrot about 48 cm (19 in) long and weighs between 800 grams (1.8 lb) and 1 kilogram (2.2 lb). Its omnivorous diet includes carrion, but consists mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects. It has orange feathers on the undersides of its wings. That’s about the weight of a domestic bantam (very small breed) chicken. Eggs are normally laid from July – October and the eggs hatch out after 4 weeks. People commonly encounter wild kea at South Island ski areas, where they are attracted by the prospect of food scraps. 21 days later these hatch. [35] Thomas Potts noted that attacks were most frequent during winter and snow-bound sheep with two years growth in their fleece were the most vulnerable, while newly-shorn sheep in warm weather were rarely molested. Bird of paradox. Queenstown 9349, © 2020 Kea Conservation Trust. Keas are sometimes referred to as the ‘clown of the mountain’ due to their cheeky personality. All four are thought to stem from a "proto-kākā", dwelling in the forests of New Zealand five million years ago. They are often described as "cheeky". The male and female line the nest with feathers, soft wood chips and dry moss and lichen to protect the eggs and keep them warm. In 1992 it was replaced by the whio. Once the chicks are able to keep warm by themselves, the mother will also join the search for food to feed them. Its specific title, the Latin term notabilis, means "noteworthy". Can you tell how hold each of the kea are?okarito nest nov08 cunningham. [18] Juveniles generally resemble adults, but have yellow eyerings and cere, an orange-yellow lower beak, and grey-yellow legs.[17]. Berkeley; Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press. On the ground they move about using a sideways hopping motion. Q. Chicks fledge after 10-13 weeks. As the kea get older, the yellow slowly disappears and the head feathers darken. [31], Mortality is high among young kea, with less than 40% surviving their first year. [8] Its specific epithet, the Latin term notabilis, means "noteworthy". [30] Two to five white eggs are laid, with an incubation time of around 21 days, and a brooding period of 94 days. Their upper beak is grey and incredibly long. [26], Kea are social and live in groups of up to 13 birds. [43][44][45], Kea were eaten by Māori. The kea is a species of large parrot in the family Nestoridae found in the forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. Keas are polygamous. Population: … [22] The kea's widespread distribution at low density across inaccessible areas prevents accurate estimates. The genus Nestor contains four species: the New Zealand kaka (Nestor meridionalis), the kea (N. notabilis), the extinct Norfolk kaka (N. productus), and the extinct Chatham kaka (N. chathamensis). The kea featured on the reverse side of the New Zealand $10 note between 1967 and 1992, when it was replaced with the whio. In September 2011, hidden cameras caught kea breaking into baited stoat traps in the Matukituki Valley. A kea pairs ‘home’ territory will be the entire spur. Most of their time is spent on the ground. A former curator of Natural History at Whanganui Regional Museum, Dr Mike Dickison, told North & South magazine in the October 2018 issue that the birds would do well on Mt Ruapehu. Who gets colder quicker? That’s about the weight of a domestic bantam (very small breed) chicken. [4] In 1986, it received full protection under the Wildlife Act. On its back and at the beginning of the tail they have red feathers. By Rosino (are you looking at me? Only 27% of the kea chicks which hatch will live for longer than a year.