The Dynamics of Kea Behaviour and Interpretive Signage on Visitor ...

for the main study. At the transition <strong>of</strong> each interval the <strong>Kea</strong> were first scanned from the left to
the right <strong>of</strong> the enclosure before then viewing the visitor. <strong>The</strong> first behaviour seen during each
signalled scan was recorded on a data sheet derived from Crockett (1996) (refer Appendix 8.2).
A measure <strong>of</strong> visitor interest was made based on the proportion <strong>of</strong> time visitors allocated to
viewing either the enclosure or the sign. This originally included an option <strong>of</strong> viewing neither
the enclosure nor the sign but still being within the 2.5m observation zone. Due to a low
incidence <strong>of</strong> occurrence this was later combined with enclosure viewing for statistical analysis.
This category was combined with enclosure viewing because the ultimate aim was to assess
whether <strong>Kea</strong> behaviours affected visitor interest in the accompanying signage, rather than
interest in the enclosure itself.
<strong>The</strong> stopwatch was terminated when the adult left the observation zone. Once any notes for the
observation was completed, the next adult to enter the designated zone was tracked using the
same principle as for Holding Time (alternating between the first <strong>and</strong> second adult <strong>of</strong> a social
group, with attempts to balance the sex ratio). In total, 59 visitors to the <strong>Kea</strong> enclosure were
sampled for this part <strong>of</strong> the study, resulting in a combined scan total <strong>of</strong> 563 sample points.
2.4 Statistical analysis
All the data were analysed using the computer programme SPSS (version 14). <strong>The</strong> Attracting
Power <strong>of</strong> the two experimental sign treatments at the <strong>Kea</strong> enclosures were compared using Chi
square analysis. An independent samples t-test was used to determine any significant difference
in the mean Holding Time <strong>of</strong> the two experimental sign conditions. <strong>The</strong> corresponding Holding
Power <strong>of</strong> the two signs did not require a statistical test. <strong>The</strong> effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kea</strong> <strong>Behaviour</strong> categories
on visitor interest in the enclosure, <strong>and</strong> by association their interest in Sign Treatment 2, was
analysed using the non parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. Results <strong>of</strong> all tests were analysed for
statistical significance at the P = 0.05 level.
24