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Researchers have monitored 45 kea between Arthur’s Pass and Lewis Pass east of the main divide since 2019 as part of the study. The birds are tracked by radio transmitters and any that died were retrieved to determine the cause. DOC science advisor Josh Kemp said results from the first two years showed a sharp increase in monitored kea being preyed upon in the years after the massive beech mast (seeding) in 2019. “Just six per cent of the monitored kea were killed by predators in 2019, but this jumped to 40 per cent in 2020, most of which were eaten by stoats and feral cats.