Kea counts in the Bealey Valley have been undertaken since April 1997 (Kea_1997_GK.pdf (1.34MB)). Initially this was to ascertain the affect on Kea population and distribution when the Arthur's Pass rubbish tip at Halpin's Creek was closed. This rubbish tip was the gathering site of almost all Kea once or twice a day. This basically revealed that Kea simply dispersed within the valley, and most hung around the Village area. This original survey was funded by AMI Insurance as part of their concession to film a TV advertisement featuring Kea in Arthur's Pass (YouTube Video). Subsequent surveys have been carried out independently or for the Arthur's Pass Wildlife Trust.

From 1997 to 2000, the Otira Viaduct project attracted a lot of Kea to the construction site at Death's Corner. Once the project was complete, and the lookout at Death's Corner was installed, the valley Kea population was distributed mostly between the Village and Death's Corner, no doubt assisted by tourists feeding Kea at the lookout.

The method of counting Kea has remained fairly consistent since 1998. Kea are surveyed 4 - 6 times over a period of 2 weeks or so, at random intervals, generally on fine weather days (or at least not horrific), between 1100hrs & 1400hrs when Kea appear more active about the central Village. These take place in early summer, mid autumn, early winter and mid spring, give or take. The maximum number of Kea sighted over these samples is recorded in the table below. Each survey normally starts at the public toilets in the Village, and moves via all the Kea haunts in the Village to the Devil Punchbowl Falls car-park as quickly as possible to avoid double-counting, then proceeds to Death's Corner lookout via all the road-side car-parks, again as quickly as possible. In winter an attempt is made not to do surveys whilst the ski-fields are open, as some Kea spend their time there. Some Kea also travel to the West Coast in winter in search of food. (kea_data.pdf (283KB))

From late 2004 we started attempting to distinguish Sub-adult (1 year+) from Juveniles (up to one year), previous to this any bird with "yellow anything" was called a juvenile. In subsequent surveys, any Kea not age identified is called an Adult, and any young bird not age identified is called a Sub-adult, hence some fluctuation in the age spread between surveys. More weight has been put on total population of Kea rather than age group divisions, as age identification when birds are on the wing, in trees, or at the top of the power pylon at Death's Corner is near impossible.

The massive population drop in 2015-16 may be a reaction to the "beech mast" and subsequent predator increase taking out the new chicks and nest sitting females. Other factors may include people feeding Kea potentially poisonous foods, and attracting Kea to areas rich in lead or near road traffic.

Note: In late 2017 it was discovered an Arthur's Pass local was consistently feeding Kea in the vicinity of Crusher Loop in the Village. This took Kea away from the normal survey sites and therefore skewed the sighting data dramatically, and unfortunately led to the deaths of many Kea. This person has now left the Village and sighting surveys were recommenced in December 2024.