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Thanks to an active intervention program, at Whangarei Heads we really do have kiwi in our backyard.

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October 5th, 2015

2015 September update

Backyard Kiwi are celebrating this month as phenomenal kiwi dad Lambert hatches his 20th chick

Hi all.

Upcoming WHLF meeting
A meeting of WHLF was originally planned for Wednesday October 7 but has been moved to November 5 at 7.30pm, probably at the McLeod Bay Hall. This meeting will be a good chance for the various groups that are part of WHLF to catch up on what is going on. Could each group please get someone to give a brief update on what they have been doing or planning to do.

Advocate Article
It was disappointing to see the misleading article in Friday’s Advocate about funding for Kiwi predator control at the Whangarei Heads. The article implies that the predator control work is being funded twice, it is not!  The recently approved NRC targeted rate is funding some (but not all) work carried out by Backyard Kiwi on private land in the Whangarei Heads as well as some control of forest invasive weeds by other groups.

The Department of Conservation’s Community Conservation Partnerships Fund (CCPF) has granted $80,000 spread over three years for work carried out by Manaia Landcare and Mt Aubrey/Reotahi Landcare groups.  This work is on public land and for much more than just kiwi predators, it includes rat and possum control and monitoring. This work compliments the work done by Backyard Kiwi, BHCT, Doc  and other groups at the Whangarei Heads and is an effective and efficient way to approach pest control in the area.  I hope that clears up any misconception caused by the Advocate.

On the other hand there was an article in the Leader that was very positive about the success of  community efforts for kiwi recovery at the Heads as part of Kiwis for Kiwi promotion of the Save Kiwi month of October.

 

Rat Kill at Manaia, possum cull at Mt Aubrey/Reotahi
Martin is to be congratulated and thanked for all his hard work in doing the significant amount of paper work needed for the successful  CCPF application for materials and resources to carry out pest control at Manaia and Reotahi.   He and the rest of the Manaia Landcare team have been working hard over the past few weeks putting out rat toxin (Rat Abate) in the network of bait stations at Manaia which will give the area a real boost this spring.  Meanwhile Mt Aubrey/Reotahi Landcare have been trapping the possums hard. Thanks to Harvey Gadd, Frank Bates and others for their successful efforts in reducing the number of possums in the last big area of possums on the peninsula.

It has been great to see the many white flowers of the native climbing clematis this spring, one of the reasons for this is the decreasing possum population at the Heads – well done team!

 

Kiwi Predator Control Programme (Funded by NRC and Kiwi Coast):
Catches for September:  Stoats 0, Weasels 4, Cats 3, Rats 56, Hedgehogs 9 and 9 possums.

I have changed over to salted rabbit as lure now and spruced the trapping network up in readiness for upcoming influx of stoats as they disperse in a month or so..

 

Meetings etc
Had another  WHLF Backyard Kiwi sub-committee meeting yesterday to work on updating the 5 year strategic plan for BYK. We also took the opportunity to celebrate the recent hatch of Lambert’s 20th chick since 2009 (see attached pic of Heather’s cake)

Submitted in support of NRC’s application to the EPA for the release of a bio-control for moth plant.

Took part in a training day put on by Kiwi Coast and NRC on using trap.org – an electronic system for recording trap catches.

Presented at the Hupara Landcare caring for Kiwi Workshop (funded by Kiwi coast).

 

Radio Tracked Kiwi at Whangarei Heads (Funded by NRC)
Your hard working kiwi dads are hatching kiwi chicks all over the place.

What your radio tracked Backyard Kiwi have been up to:

Darwin –At Lamb Road quarry. As suspected he has started nesting with 2 hours nightly activity at day 34. Hatch is due late October.

Lambert – In the pampas at Taurikura Ridge. This guy is keeping up with his reputation as a super dad! He hatched his 20th chick in 6 years after 78 days nesting and tried hard to hatch his second egg but unfortunately it was a dud. I managed to catch up with this guy and his chick in the pampas – he was down to 1875g in weight and now has a new transmitter. The chick has an ID chip and was sampled for DNA (see attached pic). Read Lamberts phenomenal hatching record 

15.09-Lamberts 20th Chick

Celebrating Lambert's 20th Chick_0188

Charlie – Still nesting in the pampas beside the main road – jeepers there is plenty traffic going past his nest but he is still hanging tight. I even had to show the Fulton Hogan grader driver where the nest was so he didn’t bowl it during the recent water table upgrade on the road. Hatch is due mid October.

Whitu – At Reotahi above the freezing works. This guy has proved the move over the ridge from the carpark area was worth it for him with the successful hatching of 2 chicks after a quiet year last season. Both chicks were ID chipped and sample for DNA. Dad was 1960g and we got some great video of him and the chicks coming and going from the nest burrow with a movement sensitive trail camera. Heather is going to edit the video for the website.

Dallas – Has finished his nest at the Hill’s place by the Heads School. He successfully hatched 2 chicks – the older one was named “Toanga” by the Hills and I will check with Whangarei Heads School for a name for the second. Dallas was 2010g and I took the opportunity to change his transmitter.

Waka – In his usual area at Mckenzie Bay. His nightly activity is still high at an average of 10.5 hours. Not looking like nesting yet.

EB – Still in the scrub near Kerr Road.  11.5 hours activity.

BNZONE program (funded by Kiwis for Kiwi):
The ONE dad’s out at Riponui and Rarewarewa have also been busy hatching chicks – providing 7 chicks for transfer to Bernie’s care at Matakohe/Limestone Island. A chick from Paddywack who is monitored by Rolf from Doc was also transferred so it has been a good start to the season.

Riponui

Rippy – usual area, Riponui Reserve. Hatched two chicks for transfer to Limestone. Rippy also had his six monthly band change done and was down to 1750g after nesting hard.

Ray – Usual area, Lovell’s Farm. Hatched two chicks for transfer. He was 2050g and had a transmitter change done at the same time..

The Acrobat- usual area, Lovell’s Farm, still not nesting 11 hours activity.

Waimarie – Nesting in shallow burrow in paddock. Hatch due mid-October.

Ngutu Roa- At SW end of reserve. Nesting in deep burrow. Hatched two chicks that were transferred to Limestone.

Sancho- nesting in the base of a Kohekohe tree in Lovell’s Bush. His data stream showed that his first chick had hatched but there has been no sign of it on nest checks. He successfully hatched his second egg and that chick was transferred.Sancho was 1950g and had his transmitter band changed.

CFU – Nesting in shallow burrow in small stand of trees in paddock. His activity is 3 hours per night and his hatch is due early October.

The Boxer – He is nesting again at the west end of the reserve. His activity was 5.5 hours at day 15 and his hatch is due late October.

 

Remember the WHLF meeting on November 5th – see you there!

 

Cheers
Todd Hamilton
Backyard Kiwi Project Manager
Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum

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