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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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March 15th, 2016

2016 February Update

Hi all

Targeted Rate

You may have seen that the targeted rate for pest control of $50/ year was recently “reset” by the NRC. This is not another $50! It is just a legal process the NRC went through to ensure that there can be no doubt about the rate setting process.

Backyard Kiwi Predator Control Programme (Funded by NRC and Kiwi Coast):

Catches for February:  Stoats 2, Weasels 3, Cats 5, Rats 82!, Hedgehogs 15 and 13 possums.  With the hot, wet conditions I have been changing the salted rabbit lure on a 3 weekly rotation and also using some eggs in the damper areas. Other areas in Northland are reporting a lower than usual stoat tally. Hopefully this is a result of the increased trapping pressure, especially by community groups, that is having a landscape wide impact on the little buggers – time will tell.

Backyard Kiwi Release (Funded by Kiwis for kiwi and Kiwi Coast)

Thank you to all those that helped out with the very successful kiwi release at McLeods on Feb 13.  300 very happy folks got to hear about our work, kiwi biology and see a wild kiwi up close and personal in their backyard.  The kiwi (Don, Chocolate and Ziggy) were fantastic ambassadors for their species and it was great to see so many new faces at the release. Full story 

w-2016-Feb Kiwi Release-McLeod bay
Kiwi Release February 2016

w-Bernie -with Don- at the burrow


‘Don’ about to be released

Upcoming Bream Head Kiwi Release

As part of our combined Backyard Kiwi/Tutukaka LC/ Bream Head Conservation Trust/Kiwi Coast BNZONE programme BHCT are hosting another release on Tuesday March 22 at 5.30pm. Details on location closer to the date.

Radio Tracked Kiwi at Whangarei Heads

What your radio tracked Backyard Kiwi have been up to:

Darwin – On his second nest of the season in the pampas at the Lamb road quarry. He had done 52 days on 26 Feb and had a good low nesting activity of 150 minutes per night.

Lambert – Usual area at Taurikura Ridge. He has finished his second nest successfully hatching 1 chick according to his radio data stream. I couldn’t check the nest safely as it was deep in the pampas and difficult to locate without disturbing dad and the chick.

Charlie – at Craig road. This is a bit of a crazy story but Charlie dropped his transmitter the night before I went to check him but when I went to check the transmitter’s location he and his mate must have been cuddled up on it because I was lucky enough to catch his mate there. Wary old Charlie had snuck off even though I stalked in as carefully as I could.  James and Catherine McNamara have always called Charlie’s mate Mrs Charlie when they hear her calling by the house so that is what we have named her –she is a wild hatched female of 2550g and 141.6mm bill who would not be there if it wasn’t for Catherine’s determined trapping efforts over the past 7 or 8 years. Mrs C is now sporting a new radio transmitter and I inserted an ID chip under skin.

w-Mrs Charlie

‘Mrs Charlie’

w-Charli and James McNaramara
Charlie  with James McNamara

Whitu – At Reotahi above the freezing works. Successfully finished his second nest of the season with 2 chicks that were DNA sampled and ID chipped. Whitu got a new transmitter too. Whitu’s Profile coming soon….

Dallas – Has finished his second nest – making 4 chicks for the season. He is now in the pampas by the main road feeding up with high activity.

EB – A year on from his release this guy has definitely settled down in the scrub at Kerr road. He currently has an activity of 10.5 hours per night.

Tindall -Still on Manaia above “Our Road”.  His activity is a healthy 11 hours per night

Ziggy – this is one of the kiwi we recently released. He is a 2 year old of 1725g. He has had a bit of a wander around Zac’s at Kauri Mt and ended up on the coast north of there at the Fabers’ place. John Fulton a new land owner, and already a Backyard Kiwi proud supporter, helped me track him. Keep and eye out for Ziggy’s back story when we add him to our Local Kiwi profiles

 

BNZONE program (funded by Kiwis for Kiwi):

There have been quite a few nest failures during the second round of nesting in Rarewarewa – The hot,  wet weather may have cause an increased number of  bacterial infections of the eggs in the damp volcanic soil burrows there. I am wonder if Whangarei Heads nests in pampas are more successful in comparison because they are drier?

Rewarewa

Ray – Usual area high activity after 2nd nest failed.

The Acrobat – High activity still – no sign of nesting this season- he did have some health issues with a bad rash which may have slowed him down.

Waimarie – Nest failed after approx. 45 days – 1 egg developed but rotten, nest seemed dry enough but this hot wet weather may have led to bacterial infection of egg. No chicks from this guy this season – 2 failed nests.

Ngutu Roa- Data stream showed successful hatch when I checked on 15/2/16 but when I returned 24/2/16 he had moved off – deep burrow but couldn’t find any sign of chicks or egg..

Sancho – Finished second nest. Hatched 1st chick (LC1511) txd on 2/2/16 and transferred on 15/2/16 to Limestone. Dad had left nest and no sign of the second egg (sighted last visit) or second chick.  LC1511 was 14 days old and was 50m away from nest site.

CFU –nesting in same area as last nest –will be 65 days 15 march. Activity good at only 200 mins at day 44.

The Boxer – Activity high still – no chicks from this guy this season. Probably not the best ONE dad but will stick with him.

Cheers

Todd Hamilton
Backyard Kiwi Project Manager
Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum

M 021 1145 385
E   hamiltont@maxnet.co.nz

 

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