This page will keep you up to date with what the fledglings and juveniles that were fitted with satellite transmitters during the summer survey are up to and where they have been.
We have deployed 4 satellite transmitters between January 2009 and January 2012 as follows:
The first satellite has been deployed on a fledgling male, Neddy, in the Hawdon Valley in Arthurs Pass. We will be watching with interest over the next few years where this bird travels to and what it's status is.
Satellite signals are programmed intensively over a 10 day period in January and July each year. In between these times, the transmitters will transmit information once a month to passing satellites.
[Back]
Nelson Lakes fledgling(72) - "Chicken Little"
January 2009 - April 2010
Please click on the pdf link to view the full scale map below.
Error margin <250 or <500m (Class 3 and 2 respectively)
Chicken Little (number 72) wearing his transmitter (Nelson Lakes)
Photo credit: Corey Mosen 2009
Chicken Little's satellite transmitter is still active as of the 13th September 2010.
Detailed maps showing each days movements (including distance travelled and elevations) will be loaded monthly.
[Back]
Where is Chicken Little?
Stop press: Chicken Little has now returned to the Raglan Range at Nelson Lakes (refer maps above).
By Matt Charteris and Reuben Lane
On behalf of the Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) Matt Charteris and Reuben Lane spent 4 days (12-15/02/10) in the Tommy Stream and Pinnacle Stream catchments of the Waihopai River searching for an individual kea known as Chicken Little (band M-OY and satellite transmitter # 72). Chicken Little was caught as a fledgling on 12/01/09 in the St Arnaud area and was banded and had a satellite transmitter put on. Subsequently Chicken Little travelled to the east and appeared for the month of January 2010 to have settled in the Tommy Stream and Pinnacle Stream area. 
Search methodology was to travel through the Tommy stream and Pinnacle Stream catchments for 4 days, utilising high points and camping locations which had good visibility over surrounding areas which received satellite transmitter locations had placed Chicken Little.
On the evening of the 14/02/10 and the morning of the 15/02/10, 3 kea (1 adult; 1 sub-adult, and 1 juvenile) were encountered together in an upper basin of the Pinnacle Stream catchment in a location which Chicken Little had previously been recorded present (NZTM E1623341 N5369384). All 3 kea were unbanded but approachable and curious. The juvenile kea on 3 observed occasions made begging noises to the adult. No attempt was made to catch these kea.
In conversation with farmers in the area, and a helicopter pilot who aerially deer hunts this area it was pointed out that all had never observed kea in the Waihopai Conversation Area or on Glazebrook Station.
In summary it appears kea are present in this area but at a low level.
[Back]
Nelson Lakes Juvenile (73) - "Raglan Ranger"
Raglan Ranger has not been detected since mid October. This means that his transmitter has malfunctioned, dropped off and been buried or the bird has died and is in an area where the transmitter cannot access a satellite passing overhead.
His last known coordinates (October) are near Conors Creek Hut - Mt Chittenden, (Lat -41.99377 Long 172.84841) and his bands are as follows:
Metal (Right Leg): 27-103420
Colour bands (Left Leg): Yellow/Pink
If you see this kea, please contact us directly at the Trust so we can follow up on him.
Josh Kemp (DoC) with the Raglan Ranger - January 2009
January 2009 - October 2009
Please click on the pdf file to view the full scale map below
Error margin <250 or <500m (Class 3 and 2 respectively)
Raglan Ranger's satellite has not transmitted any new location data since the 12th October 2009. This may be because of a damaged aerial, dead battery or he has died and is in an area where the transmitter is not in range of satellites overhead.
(The expected battery life of these units is at least 1 year from switch on date (January 2010) so it should still be transmitting).
[Back]
Have you seen these kea?
We are keen to hear of any sightings of the Raglan Ranger and Chicken Little.
Raglan Ranger (73)
His last known coordinates (October) are near Conors Creek Hut - Mt Chittenden, (Lat -41.99377 Long 172.84841) and his bands are as follows:
Metal (Right Leg): 27-103420
Colour bands (Left Leg): Yellow/Pink
Chicken Little (72)
Presently in the Nelson Lakes area on Mt Robert, St Arnaud and Rainbow Skifield
Metal (Right Leg): 27-103403
Colour bands (Left Leg): Orange/Yellow
If you see any kea with the band combinations above, please contact us directly at the Trust; Any information on either of these two birds would be much appreciated!
We will endeavor to keep you updated with technical information on the satellites as well as information on the birds movements.
Kea Research Projects 
