[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index][Subject Index][Author Index]

Re: BEAKS, CASQUES & KINESIS

At 12:20 AM 03/03/2000 -0800, Jaime A. Headden wrote: 
Betty Cunningham wrote:

<some of the parrots are carnivourous though (or at
least omnivorous and feed off live sheep)-I'm thinking
of those New Zealand Keas (not the cars silly though
I've heard these ALSO eat cars)

Keas are highly opportunistic and adaptable birds. However, they certainly did not evolve their rather unique bill shape to deal with sheep (or cars!); before the advent of sheep farmers keas were apparently vegetarian.

For those interested, there is now an excellent book on kea behaviour:

Diamond, Judy 1999. Kea, bird of Paradox: the evolution and behaviour of a New Zealand parrot. University of California Press.


--
Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886
International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116
1825 Shady Creek Court
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 mailto:ornstn@home.com