The Kea has become the stuff of legends. This alpine parrot of New Zealand has become in the minds of those who have come contact with this extraordinary bird, the clown of the mountains and, more darkly, the feathered wolf. Skiers amused by the Kea behavior often loss their humor as Kea begin to remove the weather stripping from their cars. Kea are known for their extraordinary intelligence (matched easily with the African Grey) and their playful and insatiable curiosity. This, and their adaptability is what has brought them into trouble. Kea live on berries and shoots throughout most of the year. During the harsh winter months when these foods aren’t available they preyed upon seabird chicks and insects. When New Zealand began to populate with humans and sheep farming. Kea adapted and began to prey on dead sheep. Several rogue Kea even began to prey on live sheep at night. These rogue Kea led to sheep farmers posting bounty on Kea. This led to over 150,000 Kea being killed and the population number plummeting to less than 5,000 in existence. While today, the Kea is protected (in 1970). numbers still continue to decline. Rendered in Poser Pro with no postwork. The Kea is from my upcoming "Threatened, Endangered, Extinct 3" Songbird Remix Volume.