The Kea of Arthurs Pass National Park

Kea...the clown of the Southern Alps

The New Zealand Kea is an endemic parrot found in the South Island alpine areas. If you spend any amount of time in the mountains of the South Island, sooner or later you will see or at least hear Kea. Kea were once plentiful but are now endangered as human action, loss of habitat and changing environment have impacted upon their numbers. 

Arthur's Pass is a great place to spot Kea...you will find them at all altitudes in the park and in from right in the township to the highest peaks of the park. 

 Facts about the Kea

So what exactly is a Kea...lets have a look at some of the facts:

Population: 1,000–5,000 (Kea are notoriously difficult to count accurately)
Conservation status: Endangered, Kea are a protected bird species in New Zealand.
Found in: Alpine environments of the South Island of New Zealand

Range: South Island, from Fiordland to the Abel Tasman National Park, Seaward Kaikouras west to Kahurangi National Park

Everyone loves watching the antics of  Kea...from three to 103 years old...

 Kea are the world's only alpine parrot, and one of the worlds most intelligent birds. To survive in the harsh alpine environment of the Southern Alps Kea have become inquisitive and nomadic social birds. These characteristics help them to find and utilise new food sources and ensure they easily adapt to new conditions.

Kea (Nestor notabilis) are an endemic parrot of the South Island's high country. Although they are seen in reasonable numbers throughout the South Island, the size of the wild population is unknown - but is estimated at between 1,000 and 5,000 birds. 

 

Range map for Kea aka New Zealand Mountain Parrot

This is significantly down on the estimated 160 000 Kea who inhabited the Southern Alps in the early 1900's. The Kea is thought to have developed its own special characteristics during the last great ice age, by using its unusual powers of curiosity in its search for food in a harsh landscape.

Curious Kea checks me out while at the Arthur's Pass General Store

If you are a frequent visitor to or live in an alpine environment you will know the Kea well. Raucous cries of "keeaa" often give away the presence of these highly social and inquisitive birds. However, their endearing and mischievous antics can cause conflict with people. Kea will often congregate around novel objects, and their strong beaks and razor sharp claws have enormous power.

Kea investigating the car park overlooking the Otira Viaduct

Kea grow up to 50 cm long and although mostly vegetarian, also enjoy grubs, insects and carrion. Unfortunately they are also inveterate scavengers so will also take advantage of human food, refuse and road kill. Their overall colour is iridescent green/blue but they also have orange red and golden coloured feathers under their wings and tails.

Bright colouring under Kea's wings....not sex specific!

The Kea is related to the forest Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) who inhabit forests from Stewart Island to Northland. The main difference between the Kea and Kaka are habitat...Kea prefer high alpine areas while the Kaka is more at home in dense beech or podocarp forest. You can tell the two apart by their colouring...a Kaka is much more subdued so as to blend into its forest surroundings better.

Forest Kaka eating one of its favourite foods Rata Nectar.

Much more subdued colouring on the Forest Kaka

Kea nests are usually found among boulders in high altitude forest where the birds lay between two and four eggs during the breeding season from July to January. Generally half of these eggs hatch and only one Kea out of four will survive to adulthood.

A lone Kea waddles around in the Otira Viaduct Lookout

Because of this low survival rate, it takes a very long time for a Kea population to increase once on the decline.

Threats to the Kea Population

Human development in the alpine zone has reduced the sources of natural foods available to Kea and they find our fat-laden human foods inviting. However, human foods encourage Kea to come into closer contact with humans, often resulting in mischievous behaviour. 

Feeding young Kea discourages them from looking for and learning about natural foods, and it can make them dependent on human scraps.If these artificial food sources are removed the birds will perish.

Kea, like many other native birds, have suffered from predation by introduced pests: cats, stoats, ferrets and possums. Keas are particularly vulnerable to predation because they nest in holes in the ground that are easy to find and easy to get in to. However, once they reach full adult size a Kea is generally able to fight off all of these predators.

Because Kea are inquisitive birds they will interact with a number of dangerous human items. They routinely chew through electrical cables and telephone lines & will swallow plastic, glass and other harmful substances. One particular problem is their propensity to chew on lead roofing nails and waterproofing flashings. The lead will poison them and seriously impacts on their fertility rates as it does with humans.

Kea investigating roofing bolts, Mt Aspiring NP

As always humans are the biggest threats: there was a bounty paid on the birds until the early 1970's as farmers believed they attacked stock animals for food. Kea will feed on dead stock but it has always been far less common than once thought. 

Kea colouring is surprisingly good camouflage....

Despite the fact that Kea are protected people still kill them- at least once or twice a year groups of Kea will be found dead at roadside stops. The fine for killing a protected species is either $100 000 dollars or a year in jail and people are regularly prosecuted.

Two juvenile Kea play fighting

Finally climate change is increasingly impacting on the Kea as warmer drier conditions encourage pest explosions and lead to changes in their natural environment. Food can become scarce as forest cover changes and there are less suitable nesting spots for the birds.

Tramper/Kea interaction

Because Kea are so inquisitive anything to do with trampers and tramping is of interest to them. Tents, packs, boots and other gear especially if it is colourful or shiny will provide them with eons of amusement. They will often come to investigate you if you stop in their view and will often pick at your gear with beak and claw. 

A Kea following me up the track to Walkers Pass, Hawdon Valley

Unfortunately the sharp beaks and claws of a Kea are perfect instruments to ruin expensive camping gear. Legion are the tales of packs, tents or boots left unattended in Kea country…when the owner returns they were gone or shredded!

Kea investigates my walking poles in the Otira Valley

We must however remember that we are in the Kea's habitat and not our own, trampers must learn to mitigate the damage caused by Kea. Don’t leave tents and other gear unattended, make sure all gear is stored in the hut or tent.Do not feed the Kea and keep a respectful distance from them.

Where to spot Kea in Arthur's Pass

Kea can be found throughout the park but there are places you are almost guaranteed to see one. The first is on the higher peaks and alpine tracks around the park, a good example is Avalanche Peak. I have seen a ‘gang’ of juvenile Kea here before and they regularly hang out in the area.

A Kea comes for a chat while sitting on Avalanche Peak

Another good spot to see Kea is at the lookout overlooking the Otira Viaduct, every time I have stopped here Kea have been in attendance.

Kea foraging around my car at the lookout over the Otira Viaduct

Because of the wealth of both food and stuff to mess with Kea love to congregate in Arthur's Pass township itself. When I was young it was common to see gangs of 20-30 Kea in the area. Sadly these numbers have dropped to single figures now but Kea can almost always be seen there. They particularly like to swoop down on unsuspecting tourists at the General Store and Café to steal their food!

Arthur's Pass Store: a Kea going in for the kill....on a pie!

Other places I have seen Kea in Arthur's Pass include:

Goat Pass and Goat Pass Hut

In the Hawdon Valley especially around the hut

Crow Valley
Anti Crow and Carrington Huts
Around the various camp-site shelters:Hawdon/Avalanche/Klondyke etc.

Otira Valley Track
Upper Poulter River
Temple Basin ski field

Carrol Hut and the Kelly's Creek area

Bealey Spur

Waimakariri Falls area

For more information about Kea you should go to the Kea Conservation Trust website.