2016 – August update
New Ute If you are wondering why you haven’t seen my Hilux lately it is because at 31 years old and 10 years on the traps at the Heads the tough decision for her to move on has been made (who was the cheeky bugger that said it should me moving not the ute!).
So if you see someone in a white Navara ute with a black canopy waving tough luck it is me.
Backyard Kiwi Predator Control Programme (Funded by NRC and Kiwi Coast):
Catches for August in the predator traps:
Stoat 1, Weasel 1, Cats 0, Rats 63 Hedgehogs 7 and 9 possums.
The stoat was the first for the new season and was a big male that would have be look out for females. The females are just about to give birth to their litters and the males mate with all females (young and old) during spring.
What the Kiwi are up to
The breeding season is well underway now. Folks have been asking why their kiwi aren’t calling at the moment, it is because the dads are sitting on their nests 20 or more hours per day/night, they are simply not out and about calling as much. So less calling can be good sign!
What your radio tracked Backyard Kiwi have been up to:
Darwin – Nesting in pampas at Lamb Road quarry. Nightly activity is a good low 2.5 hours after 51 days nesting. Hatch is due mid-September.
Lambert – Usual area at Taurikura Ridge. Nesting in pampas, 4 hours nightly activity at day 39, hatch due mid – September.
Mrs Charlie – At Craig road. High activity. 12 hours per night.
Whitu – At Reotahi above the freezing works. He is nesting, with very low activity indicating he has probably hatched his first egg.
EB -He is in the scrub at Kerr road. Activity is still high at 11.5 hours so Adam and I took the opportunity to do his 6 monthly transmitter band change. He was a healthy 1900g.
Tindall – NE side of Mt Manaia, he has just started nesting.
Ziggy – Still no signal.
ONE program (funded by Kiwis for Kiwi):
ONE dads at Rarewarewa are also into their breeding season.
The Acrobat – Usual area. Still high activity.
Waimarie – 1st nest failed – no sign of eggs on visual check. Has re-nested already in LUFB. Approx. 65 days on 18th September 2016
Ngutu Roa – Nesting usual area. SW reserve. 65 days on 2nd of September 2016. 2.5 hrs activity day 54.
Sancho – Nesting usual area. NE reserve. 65 days on1st of October 2016. 4.5 hrs activity at day 17.
CFU – Nesting usual area. Paddock S of reserve. 65 days on 11th September 2016. 2.5 hrs activity at day 44.
Ray – 1st nest failed around 37 day mark, didn’t get visual check.
The Boxer – Nesting NW end of reserve. Has hatched 2 chicks: LC1601 transferred to Limestone to safe hands of Emma and family, LC1602 txd.
Cheers
Todd Hamilton
Backyard Kiwi Project Manager, Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum
M 021 1145 385