Navigating a tool end in a specific direction: stick-tool use in kea (Nestor notabilis)

Area of Science:

• Animal behavior
• Cognitive ethology
• Avian intelligence

Background:

• Kea (Nestor notabilis), known for intelligence, are not observed using tools in their natural habitat.
• Understanding tool use in species lacking natural precedent offers insights into cognitive evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if captive kea can learn to use stick-tools.
• To assess kea's ability to overcome physical and ecological constraints in tool use.
• To examine the directional control and intentionality in kea's tool manipulation.

Main Methods:

• Observational study with captive kea (Nestor notabilis).
• Demonstration trials were used to teach tool-assisted food retrieval.
• Assessment of tool manipulation, including directional aiming, under controlled conditions.

Main Results:

• Four out of six captive kea successfully used a stick-tool to obtain a food reward after demonstrations.
• The birds demonstrated tool use despite physical limitations like beak curvature.
• Kea showed the ability to direct the functional end of the tool towards a positive outcome while avoiding negative options.

Conclusions:

• Captive kea possess the cognitive capacity to learn and apply tool use, even without natural precedent.
• This learning can overcome species-specific physical and ecological challenges.
• Kea exhibit sophisticated control over tool manipulation, suggesting goal-directed behavior.