Support monitoring of Fiordland's Wilderness kea (Stuart and Murchison Mountains)

The Kea Conservation Trust in partnership with the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation (FWF), has now completed two years (January 2018 and 2019) of intensive surveys and monitoring of kea in the Stuart Mtns, Fiordland (on the western side of Lake Te Anau, adjacent to the Murchison Mtns) and one year in the Murchison Mtns. A record 44 kea were banded in the first year and a further 29 new kea banded in the 2019 survey in the Stuart Mtns and 88 kea in the Murchison Mtns! Six adult female kea have had transmitters attached in the Stuarts and 10 in the Murchies so that they can be followed though subsequent years breeding seasons to find out whether they are impacted by introduced predators and if chicks need support (such as trapping) to get to fledging stage. This project is ongoing with approximately $50,000 needed annually to help us better understand this important population of kea.

The first year of this new initiative was funded by Paradise Valley Springs, the Clever Kiwi Company and Nga Whenua Rahui and with support by DOC. The second year by Paradise valley Springs, Denver Zoo, Wellington Zoo and the Clever Kiwi Company.