Kéa

The Nestor kéa or more simply kéa ( Nestor notabilis ) is a mountain Perroquet endemic of the New Zealand. Its common noun comes from its powerful cry: “keee-aa”.

Description

The kéa adult measurement nearly 50 centi Meter S and weighs more than 900 Gram S. the plumage is of general color olivâtre, the sides being darker. The back and the lower part of the tail are reddish.

Habitat

The kéa lives the Forêt S of altitude and the meadow S of the southernmost Alps of New Zealand, on grounds usually difficult to cross and exposed to a rigorous climate. It is the only parrot of Montagne of the world.

Food mode

In be, the kéa nourishes mainly Graine S, Feuille S, bud S, Fruit S, Fleur S, of Insecte S (acridien S and Coléoptère S) and of Ver S. It particularly appreciates the Lin cultivated. In Fall, he eats the growths and the sheets in the forests of Hêtre. In Winter, he does not scorn the carrions, in particular those of the Mouton S merino. It is the only known carnivorous parrot.

Ethology

The kéa is known for its curious behavior and its sharp intelligence, which made it call “the clown of the mountains”. It explores the Environnement thoroughly, going sometimes until damaging constructions and the vehicles. This clown makes the joy of the tourists, which compensates for its bad reputation partly.

Reproduction

The period of reproduction extends from July to January. The Nid is built among the rocks and brooded includes/understands between two and four egg S white. During the incubation, which lasts up to four weeks, the male feeds its Femelle. In four months, the chicks can reach their adult mass. The young people leave their parents with their sexual maturity. It takes approximately 14 weeks before the take-off of the young people.

Population

The number of kéas is badly known because of the difficulty of access to their habitat of mountain. It is feared that its population is not weak and that the species is not threatened. Because of their behavior curious and their reputation about carnivores, they were persecuted and it is estimated that more than 150.000 birds were exterminated during the 130 last years. In 1970, the species became protected. In 1986, the farmers of the mountain were persuaded to give up killing the kéas in exchange of an financial equalization granted by the government organizations.

External bonds

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