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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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July 13th, 2016

2016 June Update

Funding

Our application to Kiwis for Kiwi for funding of the ONE programme that leads to kiwi releases for Backyard Kiwi, Bream Head Conservation Trust, Tutukaka Landcare Coalition and now Tanekaha CPCA was successful.

w-K4K

Thank you Kiwis for Kiwi for your ongoing support it is much appreciated and we believe it is very good value for money with these releases a cornerstone of community engagement for all these groups.

 

We are wining! Kiwi Call Count up Significantly!

The annual kiwi call count is coming to a close. Both the number of kiwi calls counted and the number of individual kiwi identified are significant up at the 16 stations processed to date. We are just waiting on the data from the final few stations for the full summary but on the data so far the average call count is 8.4 calls per hour compared to 6.4 calls per hour last year.  143 individual males and 90 females were identified compared with 135 males and 70 females last year at 19 stations (females call less so are underrepresented).   Because only part of the kiwi habitat at the Heads is covered by listening stations this data translates into an estimated population of 820 based on the same assumptions used in past years.  675 was the estimated population last year.  This system of population estimation is only approximate but is the best we have and we use many more stations than most groups to get the best data we can.  We have come a long way from a population of approximately 80 kiwi back in 2001!!!!! Well done to all of you!!

Thanks to the listeners who braved the cold nights and difficult windy listening conditions to get this data and thanks to Fay Clayton for doing the majority of the data entry – it is big job.

w-I heard a kiwi

 

Some other happenings:

  • Kauri Die Back training continues thanks to Martin, Karen and Ngaire.
  • Ngaire Tyson (Kiwi Coast) and Kane McElrea (NRC) hosted a Kiwi Coast trappers day where we covered trap mapping, Kauri Die Back, Health & Safety and  working together to give better trap coverage.
  • Ngaire also organised the annual Northland Pest Control Workshop that Waimate North Landcare hosted. It was a great chance for folks from throughout Northland together and hear about the latest in pest control.

 

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

Our trapping season runs from 1 July 2015 to June 30 2016 and I have totalled our catches for the year (apart from a few community trappers results to come):

Stoats 16, Weasels 41, Cats 27, Rats 765 Hedgehogs 126 and 126 possums.

Stoats are down – 16 stoats for the year compares with 55 in our first year (2002-2003)  and an average of 24 stoats in the 12 years 2003 to 2015.  Not only is the trapping working at the Heads I think this reduction in stoats is a direct result of the big increase in trapping north and inland from our area thanks to the Kiwi Coast initiative.  The occasional controlled pulse of appropriate toxin in strategic areas for secondary poisoning of stoats also appears to be working to minimise the impact of trap and lure shy stoats.

Weasels are up – 41 for 2015-16, our second biggest year since the knock down year of 2002-2003 with 46 weasels.  The average weasel catch for the 12 years between the knock down year and this season is 22.  This increase in weasels is probably due to the reduction in stoat numbers (so another indication that the stoat trapping is working) – stoats prey on weasels.  Weasels have a much smaller home range than weasels so to control them completely would require a large increase in the number of traps used – this isn’t justified for kiwi recovery as weasels aren’t a threat to kiwi.

Cats -27 for this season. 13 year average is 21.

Rats – 765, our biggest year ever for rats. The warm, wet summer lead to plenty of food for them and a big population increase and corresponding catch increase.

 

What the Kiwi are up to 

The breeding season is underway now.  Unfortunately we had another wild adult female killed on the road – in the usual spot between McLeods and the Nook turn off.  She had a huge bill of 148.3mm and was a healthy breeding adult . Judging by her weight she had recently laid her eggs so her mate will be out there on the roadside incubating them. Please take care when driving at night and if you do hit a kiwi please let us know.

What your radio tracked Backyard Kiwi have been up to:

Darwin – In pampas at Lamb Road. 12 hours activity per night.

Lambert – Usual area at Taurikura Ridge. Deep in pampas. Activity has dropped to 10.5 hours so he may be starting to nest.

Mrs Charlie – at Craig road. High activity. 12.5 hours per night.

Whitu – At Reotahi above the freezing works. He has started nesting and hatch is due mid-August.

Dallas – He has dropped off the radar- no radio signal from his transmitter. I have spent plenty of time listening for his signal in his usual areas and wider so it looks like his transmitter has failed. The Hills are still hearing him call at night from his usual spot on their place, next to the school, so it looks like he is alright.

EB – He is in the scrub at Kerr road. Activity is still high at 12 hours so no nest yet for this young fella..

Tindall – I caught up with Tindall early in May for his 6 monthly check . He was a healthy 2000g in weight and seems to have settled in on the NE side of Manaia at Odys.

Ziggy – Still no signal from this fella. So may be another transmitter failure – about 1 in 10 transmitters fail and we have had a good run until recently.

 

ONE program (funded by Kiwis for Kiwi): ONE dads are also into their breeding season.

Rewarewa 

Ray – Usual area East of slip. 12 hours activity.

The Acrobat – No signal this month..

Waimarie – Usual area in the paddock below quarry. He has started nesting, hatch is due early August.

w-Rewarewa-Waimarie nest site

Ngutu Roa – West end of reserve. Activity dropping so he is probably starting to nest.

Sancho – In the paddock North of quarry. Activity down slightly.

CFU – After a few months with no radio signal I picked up a weak signal and found him in the rushes in a paddock. He now has a new transmitter and was a healthy 2250g in weight.

The Boxer – NW end of reserve. Nesting – activity 4 hours at day 18, hatch due early August. .

 

Cheers

Todd Hamilton

Backyard Kiwi Project Manager

Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum

M 021 1145 385

E   hamiltont@maxnet.co.nz

 

 

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