references
KEA IN THE NEWS…
Over the past year, there have been more than a dozen news articles ranging from kea ingesting 1080 during monitored aerial drops through to conflict issues in Kaiteriteri. Here is
Alastair Paulin, The Nelson Mail
a sample of the stories that were published in our national newspapers during this period – all annual news articles can be accessed via our website (Kea in the News in the menu).
6 Sep 2013
PESKY KEA SHIFTED TO NEW HILLTOP HOME
Kea causing chaos in Kaiteriteri have today been captured and moved to a new home in Canaan Downs on the Takaka Hill. Kaiteriteri resident Jo Ryder said a group of kea had been ‘‘leaving a wake of destruction in their path’’. Kea have destroyed a boat cover, trampoline pads, roof flashing and seals. ‘‘We thought we had a leak but the kea were eating rubber that was around our hot water cylinder. They are beautiful birds but, man, are they destructive.’’ The kea were believed to be nesting in forest near Bethany Park camp, on Martin Farm Rd. Camp worker Jenny van Heeden said they had gouged a hole in the side of a motor home before eating its insulation and had also damaged some camp chairs. Kea had been present since April but had only become a nuisance in the last month. The kea capture operation was led by Josh Kemp, a DOC scientist based in Nelson who is regarded as the department’s foremost kea expert. He said that contrary to popular belief, it was not uncommon for kea to be found in coastal areas. The birds were moved to the Canaan Downs location which was inside the Project Janszoon preservation area. ‘‘We don’t know if they will stay there but they’ll have a rosy future if they do.’’ Mr Kemp advised people to learn to live with kea, never to encourage them by feeding, and ensuring soft roof flashing or cables were well protected. Installing bird spikes makes it uncomfortable for birds to perch on a roof apex. He said kea were ‘‘New Zealand’s bears’’ and once they sniffed out any sort of reward, such as food scraps in an unsecured outdoor rubbish bin, it was hard to get them to leave. ‘‘It’s always very tempting to feed kea, especially if you’ve got kids. You may say ‘just this once’ but that once may be once too often.’’
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Photo: Andrius Pasukonis