Editing Kea (section)

===Breeding===
At least one observer has reported that the kea is [[polygynous]], with one male attached to multiple females. The same source also noted that there was a surplus of females.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Jackson | first1 = J. R. | year = 1962 | title = The life of the Kea | journal = Canterbury Mountaineer | volume = 31 | pages = 120–123}}</ref>

Kea are social and live in groups of up to 13 birds.<ref name="Clark70">{{cite journal | last1 = Clark | first1 = C.M.H. | year = 1970 | title = ''Observations on population, movements and food of the kea, ''Nestor notabilis | url = http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_17_2.pdf | journal = Notornis | volume = 17 | pages = 105–114 | access-date = 29 September 2011 | archive-date = 24 November 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201124125659/http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_17_2.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> Isolated individuals do badly in captivity, but respond well to seeing themselves in a mirror.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.biosci.unl.edu/avcog/research/articles/Mirror.pdf |title= Note on the lasting responsiveness of a kea ''Nestor notabilis'' toward its mirror image |first1= J. |last1= Diamond |first2= A. |last2= Bond |year= 1989 |work= Avicultural Magazine 95(2) |pages= 92–94 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111002104838/http://www.biosci.unl.edu/avcog/research/articles/Mirror.pdf |archive-date= 2 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Kea (Nestor notabilis) 7 Wochen (1).JPG|thumb|right|Kea chick, [[Weltvogelpark Walsrode]], [[Germany]]]]
In one study, nest sites occur at a density of one per {{convert|4.4|sqkm|sqmi}}.<ref name = "Elliott99">{{citation |first1= G. |last1=Elliott |first2= J. |last2= Kemp |year= 1999 |title= Conservation ecology of kea (''Nestor notabilis'') |publisher=WWF New Zealand}}</ref> The breeding areas are most commonly in [[southern beech]] (''Nothofagus'') forests, located on steep mountainsides. Breeding at heights of {{convert|1600|m|ft}} above sea level and higher, it is one of the few parrot species in the world to regularly spend time above the [[tree line]]. Nest sites are usually positioned on the ground underneath large beech trees, in rock crevices, or dug burrows between roots. They are accessed by tunnels leading back {{convert|1|to|6|m|ft}} into a larger chamber, which is furnished with lichens, moss, ferns, and rotting wood. The laying period starts in July and reaches into January.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jackson |first1=J. R. |year=1960 |title=Keas at Arthur's Pass |url=http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_09-1960/Notornis_9_2.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_09-1960/Notornis_9_2.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |journal=Notornis |volume=9 |pages=39–58}} {{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Two to five white eggs are laid, with an incubation time of around 21 days, and a brooding period of 94 days.<ref name="FST66">{{citation |first1= RA |last1= Falla |first2= RB |last2= Sibson |first3= EG |last3= Turbot |year= 1966 |title= A Field guide to the birds of New Zealand |publisher=Collins, London |isbn= 0-00-212022-4}}</ref>

Mortality is high among young kea, with less than 40% surviving their first year.<ref name="KCT">{{cite web|author=Akers, Kate|author2=Orr-Walker, Tamsin|name-list-style=amp|url=http://www.keaconservation.co.nz/pdfs/kct_factsheet_april09.pdf|title=Kea Factsheet|publisher=Kea Conservation Trust|date=April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602100348/http://www.keaconservation.co.nz/pdfs/kct_factsheet_april09.pdf|archive-date=2 June 2010}}</ref> The [[median]] lifespan of a wild subadult kea has been estimated at five years, based on the proportion of kea seen again in successive seasons in Arthur's Pass, and allowing for some emigration to surrounding areas. Around 10% of the local kea population were expected to be over 20 years of age.<ref name="BondDiamond1992"/> The oldest known captive kea was 50 years old in 2008.<ref name="KCT"/>