Conservation & threats

Conservation & threats

The government use to pay people who killed the Kea because it was considered the pest , 150,000 where killed before this was lifted .the Kea became partially protected after a census found that their was less than 5000 left  It was not until 1986 that it was given full protection under the Wildlife Act 1953. Kea  populations decreased even more because of introduced pest such as possums and stoats eating the Keas eggs. Lead poisoning is a major cause of premature death mostly from building materials scientists think that this may be caused by the Keas natural curiosity. the Kea are still shot and aren't very well protected

Community

Community

Habitat

The Keas live only in the southern alp's in New Zealand. the Kea is the worlds only alpine parrot and this makes it very unique the Kea does not live in the north island however fossils suggest that they lived their when populations were bigger. They live any where from low lying Valleys to up in the snow the Keas plumage protects it from the cold and this helps it to survive in remote habitats.

Relationships

The main diet of the kea are plants found in alpine areas. They also eat other animals including insects bird eggs and sheep. Keas have been known to eat food from rubbish bins. the main predators of Keas are stoats and possums since they were introduced 

Adaptations

 

 

Adaptations

 

Structural

 

the Kea has a long narrow curved upper beak that allows them to eat seeds ,insects and worms this allows them to  also pry the rubber off cars and this means they are sometimes considered as pests this behave your is very different from other animals

the thick olive green plumage protects the Kea for the cold

 behaviour

 

Keas eat lots of plants and seeds so they move up and down the mountains as the different seeds appear eg Keas are seen eating at alpine scrub and grassland zones at 4,000 - 5,000 ft. in spring  where food was more plentiful. In autumn, Keas were frequently seen between 5,000 - 6,500 ft. the Keas are also omnivores and eat meat as well as plant material if they live near farming area then they may hunt for sheep in groups of up to 13

 

Physiological

 

Keas are one of the smartest brids in the world


these adaptions are importaint for the kea survive in alpine conditions or when food sourses are low