Mutu Kak' Bird Perch Snare from Aotearoa

A mutu Kak' bird perch snare, Aotearoa, carved from a single piece of wood, this mutu kak' is in the form of a 'T'. The handle of the perch has a large carved wheku (face). The perch is a straight shaft with a smaller wheku carved into the end. Native birds, such as kereru, kaka or tui were greatly valued as a source of food, bones for tools, feathers for ornamentation, or pets. A plaited length of muka flax attached each end of the landing perch ould be jerked to tighten which ould trap the birds leg to the perch. Kak' juveniles were easily captured and would often be used as bait to attract other birds. Upon hearing their cries of the already captured kak' other birds would be called to the perch. The mutu kaka lured birds by way of a looped snare connected to the device, attached to a tree branch and baited with berries. When a bird landed on the perch, the looped snare was tugged, trapping the bird to the perch and preventing it from flying away. Height 22.1 cm, width 27 cm, depth 4.5 cm