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O C TO B E R – N OV E M B E R
On 1 October, Dulux announced the Dulux/DOC/KCT partnership during the launch of their Spring range. Conflict issues continued in Kaiteriteri with 4 kea caught by the KCT team and relocated to Nelson Lakes. A follow-up meeting to discuss current and future issues was attended by around 20 people including KCT and DOC representatives. Our administrator, Kay Davidson, organised a wonderful Kea event (involving ukuleles, talks and colouring in) for the NZ Scouts jamboree in Hokitika. Lance, the kea found at Candy’s bend with an injured foot, was successfully released back into the area (minus a toe) after receiving medical treatment from the Hornby Vets team. A media release announces that kea are now officially listed an endangered species.
Photo: Corey Mosen
A sick kea is found at Fox Glacier by a member of the public at the end of October. Unfortunately the unnamed adult male died the next day – cause of death confirmed as lead poisoning. A kea found dead in a DOC 200 trap at Canaan Downs was found to be one of the original Kaiteriteri kea caught up and relocated during the recent conflict situation. His name was Asterix. Donations/membership received: over $19,236.20
Our wonderful new website was launched on 23 December after enormous effort by Avoca Design and KCT personnel.
D E C E M B E R – J A N UA RY
The conflict issues continue in Motueka with three kea causing havoc in a house after entering through an open window, and another report of kea pinching nappies off a clothes line. Our summer survey (funded by the NZ Lottery Grants Board) ran successfully at two sites; Kahurangi National Park and the Kaikoura Mountains from 4–28 January. A record number of kea talks were presented at the Australasian Ornithological Conference (AOC) in Auckland during December. Nic Dussex (Otago University), Clio Reid (Massey University), Erin Kennedy (Auckland University), Bruce McKinley (DOC), and Nigel, Lorne and Tamsin (KCT) all attended. Donations received: $50,535.61
Kea Conservation Trust trustee (and one of our original founders), Peter Fraser, won the Conservation Award for outstanding contribution to conservation at the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) conference. Very well deserved Peter! One of our new kea signs (funded by the Lion Foundation) was installed at Deaths Corner in Arthur’s Pass by DOC. Additional requests were received from ski fields in Arthur’s Pass and DOC Wanaka for use of the signs to increase public awareness. Our new short video, ‘Will you help our mountain parrot?’ developed for us (and very kindly donated to us) by the German film crew at Text und Bild, was posted on our website and Facebook page. The final results from our nest monitoring programme showed that out of 23 females tracked during the nesting season, only 4 successfully raised 7 chicks to fledging stage – at Nelson Lakes and the Hawdon Valley. Donations received: $6,758.94
F E B RUA RY – M A RC H
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