Maori Bird Snare Perch from 19th Century New Zealand

A 19th century mutu kaka, Maori bird Snare perch, made from a single piece of wood, unbalanced T-shaped with an upright section carved as a wheku with protruding jaw and a horizontal perch slightly curved terminating in another wheku. Native birds, such as kereru, kaka or tui were greatly valued by the Maori as sources of food, bones for tools, feathers for prestigious ornaments such as cloaks, or pets, hence bird catching was considered as a revered activity. Maori would use already captured birds as decoys to help attract wild fowls which would come upon hearing their cries, especially the kaka which is naturally curious and sociable. The mutu kaka, or bird snare perch, lured birds by way of a looped snare connected to the device, attached to a tree branch and baited with berries. When a bird alighted on the perch, the looped snare was tugged, trapping the bird against the upright and preventing it from flying away. National registration number: Y21008, length 69.5 cm, width 4.5 cm