Karate to drive off birds

2006-02-03 11:14

Wellington - New Zealand vintage car enthusiasts have hired 40 karate experts to keep parrots away from their valuable cars during an upcoming rally, a report said on Friday.

New Zealand's native kea mountain parrots have a reputation for ripping out rubber and just about anything else that isn't welded on to cars with their strong beaks.

This is bad news for enthusiasts taking 140 vintage cars to a rally at the South Island alpine village of Mount Cook.

Denis Callesen, the manager of the Hermitage hotel at Mount Cook, told the Press newspaper the "feathered terrorists" would be especially attracted by the polished chrome and open tops of the cars, which are up to a century old.

The members of the local martial arts club are not likely to try any traditional karate moves on the parrots but will guard the cars around the clock, Calleson said.

Conservation ranger Ray Bellringer said the karate experts would be no match for the wily birds.

"They will fly around and laugh," he said, adding squirting the parrots with water pistols would be a better bet.

- AFP