The world is a fascinating place and the natural habitat of countless different animals. Birds bring a variety to the animal world. With their splendid, colorful plumages, they are a beautiful addition to the scene, while the pleasant sounds they make create a magical, relaxing atmosphere in nature.

 

Unfortunately, many birds have been extinct due to disturbed ecological balance, poaching, and hunting. The increased use of pollutants, toxins, and dangerous chemicals has drastically reduced their numbers as well. Yet, they are vital to the balance of this ecosystem, so to preserve them, we must make their habitat a clean and safe place to live in. The west coast of the South Island, New Zealand, is the home of one of the smartest and most playful of its species- the Kea (Nestor notabilis ).

This big, olive-green parrot has scarlet underwings and a slender grey-black bill. Juveniles have yellow ceres and eyelids, and as they mature, they fade to grey. Female kea are slightly smaller than males and have shorter beaks, and they are all great flyers. Their name in Maori is onomatopoeic, as their long, loud, high-pitched descending cry may be broken “kee-ee-aa-aa”, or unbroken “keeeeeaaaa”. Kea can be found in coastal areas too, but they are most commonly found in or near alpine regions. Their home spans around 3,5 million hectares, and once was rich in these birds, and even 100 000 of them lived there.

Yet, just like in the case of many other species, these numbers have been drastically reduced over the years, and the Kea is now listed as nationally endangered, with only between 3000 to 7000 being recorded as surviving. The Kea Conservation Trust is grateful for the recognition of the world’s only alpine parrot on the nationally endangered list