Kea, Bird of Paradox: Evolution Behavior New Zealand Parrot

In kea country, tourists are often advised to close their windows before going out, lest the birds get in and maul their rooms. A crow-sized parrot native to New Zealand's South Island, the kea's intelligence rivals that of monkeys, but on the island it is best known for its playful, inordinately destructive behavior. Diamond and Bond, professors at the University of Nebraska, report on the first extensive field study of the world's only alpine parrot. While tracing the history of New Zealand's unique avifauna, including the fabled moa and the lowland kaka, the authors show how the kea's unique adaptability has led to both its survival and its sometimes contentious relations with humans. Seen as a pest by sheep farmers whose livestock were picked at by the birds, keas were ruthlessly shot until 1953 and were not fully protected until 1986. Though it is now uncommon to find keas outside nature preserves and national parks, their mischievous play--tipping garbage cans, breaking TV antennas, shredding camping tents--continues to frustrate human neighbors. The authors found that these annoying behaviors are similar to object play and are socially facilitated. Though the kea's cheeky character makes for lively anecdotes and complicated history that may interest birders, this is primarily a scientific report and its methodical tone may put off the general reader. 1 color and 28 b&w photos, 3 maps, 14 tables. (Jan.)