April update
The autumn rain has come just at the right time for kiwi breeding. The kiwi are hard out feeding and getting fat for breeding. As their body condition improves the kiwi start calling more to mark their territories – each male and female pair have their own area and there is competition for the best spots. If you want to hear a kiwi calling in you backyard now is the best time of year to have a listen – to help you identify the different calls – click Hear a kiwi in the grey box to the right of this update
Please be careful of kiwi on the roads, their main senses are hearing and smell so they are not the best at avoiding cars – so we need to avoid them.
Recently a large female kiwi was run over on the road just north of McLeod Bay. She was a bird we released back in 2007 as part of 150th celebrations at Whangarei Heads – named “Sesqui” she had spent the last 6 years growing to an impressive 3.15 kg in size. She did not have a radio transmitter on but was identified by the ID chip all released kiwi have. Sesqui was in prime breeding condition and the pity is that she had 50 more years of breeding ahead of her, so please keep an eye out for your kiwi on the road! Don’t mistake them for a possum or a hedge hog!
What some of your kiwi are up to:
Darwin – Back in the pampas in the Lamb road quarry – his activity has dropped a bit and he may be starting to nest.
Whitu- Usual area Reotahi – Activity of 11.5 hours per night.
Dallas – Still in the pines by the School- 11 hours activity.
Lambert – Usual area Taurikura Ridge – activity of 12 hours per night.
Waka – Usual area Mckenzie Bay – activity of 11.5 hours per night.
Charlotte – Usual area of McKenzie Bay.
JR – Has moved down to the lower slopes of South Taurikura Ridge above Urquarts Bay – activity of 10 hours per night.
Charlie – At McNamnara’s at Craig Road – due his 6 monthly check but being a bit sneaky in the scrub there.
Kiwiana – At the southern end of Mt Manaia. His activity is around 11 hours per night.
Webb – In the pines between Ody’s and Kerr Road.
Clover – This is the young male released in January–caught up with him for his 3 monthly check- 1450g so doing ok but hasn’t grown since release probably due to the drought conditions.
Upcoming release
Bernie (the new Limestone Ranger), Kane and I had a very successful night walk at Limestone recently- 3 good sized kiwi in 90 minutes (I wish it was always that easy to catch the little buggers). Limestone Island continues to be a fantastic kiwi crèche. These birds will be numbers 99,100 and 101 when they return to the mainland and FOMLI is planning to celebrate this in the week of May 20.
2 of the birds are from our BNZONE programme (a combined effort of WHLF, BHCT and Tutukaka LC) – funded by Kiwis for Kiwi. The plan is to have a release hosted by BHCT at Bream Head with the kiwi – 4.30pm on Tuesday 21 May – at the Urquharts Bay carpark.