
Today we went up to Arthur's Pass and I met my very first Kea. Isn't she beautiful? I have always wanted to see these cheeky birds, which are found only in New Zealand. They also happen to be the world's only mountain parrot – and the most intelligent bird species. Some have even claimed that Kea are the world's cleverest animal (after humans, although I don't think humans are that smart - look at what we are doing to the planet with climate change!)
When monkeys and kea have been presented with the same complex puzzle, where they have to work out several locks and mechanisms in order to release a tasty treat, the keas outdo the monkeys – and they don't even have hands! Instead they use their long sharp beaks to untie knots and lift up levers, and their extra smart brains to figure out the best way of getting to the reward. Often, researchers have to think very carefully how to devise a 'test' for them because they will think laterally and so 'cheat' to get the reward in a way that the researcher didn't think of! They also work in groups to get the prize - now that is smart. Have a look at
this video and watch (at 1.24) how one kea pulls on the string so that the other two can eat the food.
While we were up at Arthur's Pass we also caught sight of an incredibly rare creature. We had thought that the moa was extinct. These prehistoric flesh-eating birds (even larger than an ostrich) roamed New Zealand in the days before the Maori came here. It has always been taught that the moa were hunted to extinction several hundred years ago.... and yet - we saw the sign:
..... and then we caught sight of the beast:
Good job we were in our car and could get away. Looks like we had a lucky escape - don't you think!?