Kea nest discovered in culvert on Motueka forestry site hailed as significant

A kea nest discovered on a forestry site near Nelson has revealed new information about the endangered native parrots. 

The nest, with two chicks about two and a half months old, was found in a disused culvert at a Tasman Pine Forests Ltd skid-site in the Motueka Valley.

Department of Conservation kea biologist Corey Mosen said the discovery was significant for a number of reasons.  

"It is the first time we have ever found one in a non-native forest and also the first time we have ever found a kea nest in a man made object in the wild as well."

"It shows you that they are quite adaptable birds, they make use of an unnatural food source with the logging disturbing everything, they hang out there because of the food availability it brings."

A forestry contractor suspected there was a kea nest in the area having seen adult kea around the culvert and contacted Mosen, who went to the site to have a look.

Mosen, who also works for the Kea Conservation Trust, said there were eight kea on the site when he first arrived and his kea conservation dog Ajax located the two chicks.

"We found the kea mucking around in the scrub just outside the nest entrance."

He said a collection of dry sticks and moss inside the drain was evidence of their nest. A scope revealed the birds had nested quite far up the culvert, around a corner and out of sight. 

Kea were ground-nesting birds, who usually built their nests in the forest, underneath a tree root systems or in a rock cavity. 

He said it was pretty rare for a kea nest to be discovered by a member of the public. 

Mosen said Kea chicks took about three weeks to hatch and were fully fledged at about four months old. 

As the birds got older, they would leave the nest during the day to explore, flapping their wings to build up their breast muscles in preparation for flying. 

Mosen said the chicks were banded for identification and it was likely they would fledge soon, so he planned to return to the site over the weekend to check on them. 

Kea have recently been classified as internationally endangered and it is estimated there are between 3000 and 7000 of the mountain-dwelling birds left in New Zealand.

After the chicks were reported, Tasman Pine Forests made the decision to halt operations near the nest until the chicks fledged. 

Tasman Pine Forests Ltd health, safety, environment and risk coordinator Rebecca Sharp said the company took its environmental stewardship responsibilities seriously.

"We're really pleased that these chicks were found in our estate and that we can contribute to the conservation of this unique, nationally threatened species."

The disused culvert would be retained in the hope kea would nest there again next year. 

Sharp said it was a great working example of the successful implementation of the Kea Guidelines for Plantation Forestry.

The guidelines were developed by the Kea Conservation Trust and the New Zealand Forest Owners Association. 

Trust conflict co-ordinator Andrea Goodman said many forestry sites were in areas where kea were found and there were guidelines for preventing damage to forestry equipment and protecting kea.

"Kea are inquisitive and social birds and, because of this, they interact with people and property."

The guidelines included ways for forestry companies to discourage kea from hanging around harvest sites and for protecting equipment. 

She said feeding kea would encourage them to hang around. Equipment should be covered and cinnamon or garlic paste could be used as a repellent.