World's only alpine parrot faces extinction

                                   Photo by Andrew Walmsley / Kea Conservation Trust                

KEAS IN NEW ZEALAND IN BIG TROUBLE

Keas (Nestor notabilis) are shown above in Nestor's Pass, South Island, New Zealand.The world's only known alpine parrot faces extinction thanks to predators, shootings, lead poisoning, baited small mammal traps and hunting by farmers, who consider them pests.   Keas are large birds, up to 19" long and weighing as much as 2.2 lbs.   They eat many things from seeds, insects, other birds and small mammals, including young sheep, and carrion.   Their numbers are down to a few thousand and they have been declared 'Nationally Endangered' in New Zealand.

Photo by Tom Vincent

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BarrytheBirder