Additional Kea Research
Collegiality is an important aspect of any research organisation. As such the Trust aims to assist with and promote all kea research projects which are seen to benefit the species both nationally and internationally.
This page will post current research that is being undertaken by organisations nationally and internationally.
Conservation genetics of the kea
Nicolas Dussex, Dr Bruce C. Robertson & Assoc. Professor Ian Jamieson
Department of Zoology, University of Otago.
The kea is a species in decline over its whole range. After 150 years of persecution through a
government bounty scheme, the species became fully protected in 1986. Little is known about the impact of this cull on the species or the maintenance of genetic diversity and there is still a lot to learn about the species in order to set effective conservation measures.
Here we will investigate the phylogeography (genetic relationship between populations of different geographic origins) and population structure of the kea. Our study will provide valuable information on kea dispersal, such as the relative roles of the sexes in gene flow (e.g. Are mainly males or females connecting populations together?) and will enable an assessment of the connectivity between populations. Identifying genetic similarities and differences among
populations will help identify management units in the kea that could be used in the management of the species.
Genetic data will also enable us to investigate the past demography of the species. It has bee
n speculated that the introduction of sheep and deer by Europeans artificially raised the population size of kea and that the species rapidly became superabundant. Genetic based population estimates will inform us of kea density upon European arrival and will be used as a reference value to tell us if the current population is really declining or rather returning to a natural state of low abundance and patchy distribution.
We also plan to assess the impact of the population bottleneck of the mid 1800s to late 1900s cull on the genetic diversity of the species. By comparing genetic diversity of museum and
contemporary samples, we will be able to detect and quantify any genetic loss. Finally, we will examine the relatedness and kin clustering on a fine scale to get a better understanding of the social structure of the species.
[Back]
Kea Vocalisations
Raoul Schwing of Canterbury University is currently undertaking research on kea vocalisations. We will post information on this project as soon as we receive it.
Raoul with a test subject in Arthurs Pass.
Photo credit: Dr Nigel Adams
[Back]
Foraging and Feeding in kea
Amanda Greer
Amanda Greer of Canterbury University is currently studying foraging and feeding in wild kea. Invormation on this research will be posted over the next few months.
[Back]
Kea and its role in seed dispersal of fleshy-fruited alpine plants
Laura Young, PhD project
There are a noticeably large number of fleshy fruited plants in the alpine areas of NZ and a seemingly depauperate suite of (indigenous) animals inhabiting these areas. Therefore, is there adequate fruit removal and seed dispersal for these plants and what animals are doing the job? How important is dispersal for these plants? The kea is one of the only native birds that remain in the alpine area. Rock wrens live there, as well as pipits, and although pipits do consume some fruit, the distances flown by pipits compared with kea are less significant in long-distance seed dispersal. Therefore, I study in more detail the role of the kea as potentially the most important frugivore and long-distance disperser of these seeds, and attempt to answer the question that everyone asks me… “as the kea is a parrot, wouldn’t they predate more seeds than they ingest and thus do more damage than good?”
Using qualitative behavioural studies, I investigated how kea feed on fruit from different plant species, whether they destroy seeds in the “chewing” process or ingest seeds whole, and test whether fruit preferences are consistent between different populations. I did most of the feeding behaviour observations at Cass near Arthurs Pass and Red Tarns near Mt Cook. It was an arduous exercise, climbing mountains sometimes twice a day, or camping on the tops. You have to be up very early in the mornings to be there before daybreak and well into the evenings, but it is well worth the effort. I used both personal observations to record feeding, as well a handheld video camera to record times where multiple birds were feeding simultaneously. I recorded over 230 discrete feeding observations and now I need to analyse the data. Some stunning video footage has been collected on many aspects of kea beahaviour. I also collected as many kea droppings as I could find to see what seeds actually get passed through intact and I hope to make use of radio-tracking data to look at distances flown and movements, as well as information from banded birds to relate this to seed dispersal distances.
So far I’ve found that kea both predate seeds and ingest them intact. Results coming soon, but kea are definitely important seed dispersers of alpine plants!
[Back]
UV Reflectiveness of 1080 baits
Auckland University's Biological Sciences Department has recently been investigating the ultra violet (UV) reflectiveness of 1080 baits to see whether kea may be visually attracted to 1080 pellets.
Many parrots species are known to see in the ultra violet range however it is unknown as to whether kea are able to visualise in this range. If the results of the 1080 investigation indicate a high reflectiveness of pelleted 1080 in the UV range, this may help to understand one factor contributing to kea attractiveness to 1080 baits during some aerial drops.
The results of spectral analysis, run by Dr. Mark Hauber and Brani Igic, however showed no obvious UV spikes for either baits and as such it is considered that kea are unlikely to be attracted to the baits within this particular spectral range.
Mark and his team will continue to investigate kea visual perception and hope to facilitate development of a bait type which is cryptic to the kea eye during the day but more easily visible to target nocturnal species, such as rats, at night.
[Back]
University of Vienna - kea behavioural research
Dr. Gyula Gajdon of the Department for Neurobiology and Cognition Research (University of Vienna) has been conducting behavioural research on Mt Cook/Aoraki kea for the last few years. For more information on this research and other kea research Vienna University is involved in please follow this link to Vienna University's Kea Lab
Kea Behaviour and Lead Toxicity
Clio Reid (Victoria University) in conjunction with Massey University and Department of Conservation is finalising research on lead toxicity levels in wild kea populations and kea behaviour. This is a very important project which the Trust joined in on in December 2008 (read below for the expedition outline and photos).
We will update this page with Clios results as they are received.
The Expedition......
(December 5th-14th 2007)
The Kea Conservation Trust Chair, Tamsin Orr-Walker, along with two other volunteers, Corey Mosen and Michelle Whybrow (Auckland Zoo Natives Section), joined up with Clio Reid (Victoria University) and Kate McInnes (Department of Conservation Vet) at the Mt Aspiring National Park area for 10 days of kea research.
The full team - from left to right
Corey Mosen, Kate McInnes, Clio Reid, Mark Morrison, Michelle Whybrow,
Laurel George and Tamsin Orr-Walker
Laurel George and Mark Morrison of Our Planet Expeditions (www.ourplanet.co.nz) hadorganised all the transport, accomodation and food details, so we were able to focus on the work at hand and enjoy the brilliant scenery along the way!
 Mt AspiringPark
The first night at camp, we were joined by a curious adult male kea who become our first subject of the trip. This male was banded, weighed, bill length measured, and he was given a brief vet check to ascertain presence of any external para sites and general condition. A blood sample was taken to check for exposure to lead and then he was released.
Completely unfazed at being handled by Clio and Kate, he then proceeded to follow our group around for the next week and joined in whole heartedly with Clios behavioural studies! A great character and as an added bonus, very photogenic! See below
Over the next week our group was slowly whittled down - Michelle returned to work after 3 days and myself after a week. The hardcore group Corey, Kate, Clio and Laurel stayed for the full 10 days resulting in 5 kea (2 juveniles, 1 sub-adult and 2 adults - all males) caught, banded and sampled for lead levels.
Kate and Clio conducting a health check on a juvenile bird
Each day of the trip consisted of a walk from the camp base at Raspberry Hut (owned by the Aspinall family), to Rob Roy Glacier - a 2 hour walk through stunning beech forests and across icy glacial streams to the base of the glacier, and then much searching for any sightings of kea.
On the 5th day of the expedition, Corey, Laurel and myself tramped further up the valley to try and find additional birds for Kate and Clio. This turned out to be a 9 hour tramp rising steeply from the valley floor to spectacular views of Mt Aspiring, the valley below, a myriad of waterfalls and fields of mountain buttercups. One kea was seen but did not come down to investigate. Breathtaking walk and well worth the crippling pain that evening when we finally got back to camp!!
Laurel and Corey taking a break after a 5 hour vertical trek
Eachnight in our tents brought various visitations - kea on the tent and a possum under the hut floor and one early morning a large flock of sheep and 7 sheep dogs!
Mountain Buttercups
It was decided by all that this had been a great trip, perfect weather, stunning scenery, great company and many nights of talking about many interesting topics (including kea of course!). And it cannot be overlooked that Laurel kept us exceptionally well fed, which was particularly appreciated at the end of a long days walk.
There will be many wonderful memories of daily swimming and bathing in glacial rivers and waterfalls and sitting with a cool beer or glass of wine under a spectacular Southern night sky! And of course we cannot forget the kea - there will also be many wonderful memories of these characters!
The team standing below Rob Roy Glacier
Lets hope we have many more opportunities for memories like these still to make....
Results of this study will be posted on our site once they are finalised.
[Back]
|
Kea Research Projects 
