Conservation, environment, water and wildlife

Parrots love heavy metal

Green Ideas editorial team

Tags birds , lead

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Lead is believed to taste sweet to the native forest parrots, kaka, and the birds are known to chew on lead roofing nails and flashings.

Kaka numbers are rebounding in parts of New Zealand, especially in Wellington around the Zealandia sanctuary. However, this has led to a spike in the number of kaka being found with lead poisoning, which causes vomiting, loss of balance and eventually death.

Some families in areas where kaka regularly visit have gone so far as to replace their lead roofing nails with lead-free products.