| Prev | Next |
|
|
|
| Prev | Next |
Kea sign, Lake Manapouri, 3 January 2008
The kea is the world's only alpine parrot, confined to the mountain areas of New Zealand's South Island. Raucous cries of "keeeaa" often give away the presence of these highly social and inquisitive birds.
Kea build their nests in rock crevices and tree hollows where the female incubates 2-4 eggs. She is fed near the nest by her mate who also helps raise the chicks. Males are slightly larger than females and young birds have yellow around their eyes and bills which darkens to brown within three years.
The kea is a fully protected species. One of the main problems they face is from well-meaning human beings. Feeding kea our high energy and junk foods disrupts their natural diet of berries, leaves, insects and larvae. It also encourages them to hang around human haunts, exercising their curiosity and strong, manipulative beaks in the destruction of our unguarded possessions.
Enjoy these mountain clowns- but for their sake and ours, don't feed them!
Original size: 2592x1944
Timestamp: 2008:01:03 16:00:40
Exposure time: 1/500 s