“Kiwi Aversion Trained” dogs attacking kiwi

“Kiwi Aversion Trained” dogs attacking kiwi
KAT was developed for hunting dogs that go into an area with kiwi and then are removed from that area. It is not appropriate for pet dogs or any dog that remains in a kiwi area. Scientific studies have shown that it is ineffective and unfortunately the practical reality has shown multiple kiwi killed by “KAT” dogs. We had another example recently that the kiwi was very lucky to survive when a KAT dog was uncontrolled on a farm. Luckily the nearby dog owners saw the dog go for the kiwi in the paddock and pulled it off. The dog had missed the fragile kiwi chest and after a couple of days recovering at the WNBRC the kiwi was very lucky to survive and be released in a safe area. If you have a dog in the Whangarei Heads area please do not get your dog KAT trained! If you bring a KAT dog to the area, keep it on a lead!!!

Dog leads save kiwi

What has proved effective in saving kiwi from our dogs is the use of a lead on the dog. Another example of this happened recently when a landowner was walking their dog on their own lifestyle block ON A LEAD – the dog was happily being walked down a track when it lunged at a kiwi in the rank grass beside the track. The dog owner managed to hold the dog back. The dog owner rang and got Todd to check out the kiwi – it was just a young chick of a few weeks old. We ID chipped the chick of 350g and moved it to a nearby area with no dogs.

Kiwi chicks are hatching thick and fast

The first round of nesting is coming to an end with good hatching success.  Monitored males Chookie, Murdoch and Wally have all hatched chicks, and Humphries is close to hatching his eggs. The recent kiwi saver/1080 controlled toxin pulses have done a good job controlling the stoats that have become trapshy; so these chicks stand a good chance of making adulthood.  Things are drying up now but Chookie and Wally have both renested already. Some rain may help the others fatten up and breed again.

The kiwi dads in Purua that we get chicks from to put on FOMLI managed Matakohe/Limestone Island have been busy nesting too. A big thanks to the generosity of Ngati Hine and Purua farmers with the support of DoC and Kiwi Coast for the gift of these chicks. Four chicks were transferred in October and another two on November 1.

Whangarei Heads Combined Conservation Christmas Do

If you haven’t already put Friday November 29 in your calendar for the annual xmas Do.  5pm McLeod Bay Hall. See the attached invite for details

What your monitored kiwi have been up to?

Whangarei Heads/Parua Bay  Radio monitored kiwi:

• Chookie– It looks like he has already started his second nest for the season.  Activity down to 7.5 hours and the nesting pulse has been triggered on his transmitter.
• Teina– In his usual valley of pampas and pines at the north end of Martins’ pine block. 10.5 hours activity. We did his transmitter change.  3475g extremely fat! He really needs to get on with nesting!!
• Beach Girl – She has spent time on both the Martins’ and Halses’ blocks  between Owhiwa and Ross Roads.  Her nightly activity is 10 hours.  Did her tx band change – She is in excellent condition and 3000g
• Murdoch – Successfully hatched two chicks on Debbie’s block between Ross Road and the end of Owhiwa Road. Nesting 83 days on 14/10/24. No hatch shown on the data stream but his activity rose to 6.5 hours so I did a nest check and found two healthy chicks (see pic). They have been ID chipped and photographed for locals to name.  Dad was 1750g and Poor condition after his nesting effort.
• Humphries – He is still going well for a 3 year old, first time nester.  NE side of the Martins’ block nearer Tauranui Road, 68 days in on 30/10/24, good low 2 hours of nightly activity
• Wally– Nested 84 days then abruptly left his nest – his radio data stream showed 16 days since his first hatch and there were no chicks in the old pampas bush nest when I checked it – but lots of evidence of hatch (es). Turns out he had more eggs to incubate and obviously thought they were more important than his chick(s) as he started on a new nest almost immediately!  On 25/10/24 he was 7 days nesting and 7 hours activity. In his usual nesting area – Pine/Gum block at end of Campbell Road.  He is making a habit of these back to back nests!
• Manaaki – Has dropped off the radar. Last signal 27/6/24 in pines at Martins’ Owhiwa Road block.  Big searches for no signal – still looking.

• Beach Girl

Kiwi that have walked to the Whareora Landcare area:

• Fetu Mama – Found her again – she must have gone deeper down in the valleys as things have dried out. Got a weak signal from Onerahi side up somewhere in the NRC pines towards Mt Tiger. 10 hours nightly activity.
• Te Motu Manu Hine – Still in the NRC pine block between Mt Tiger and the Money Factory.  11 hours of nightly activity.

Purua ONE dads  6 chicks transferred to Limestone/Matakohe to date and still a couple of first round nests to go.

Rarewarewa/Purua ONE dads:

• Moondust– 11 hours activity, usual area behind Lovell’s Irvine road woolshed.
• Buddha – Usual area; in  the paddock north of McGraths’ quarry.  Nesting 42 days on 17/10/24 with 3.5 hours of activity.
• Macio– On “Kauri Tree Ridge” in south Purua reserve.  Nested 82 days on 24/10/24 for one chick and a very rotten egg. Chick LC2403 transferred to Limestone.
• Otiria – South end of the Purua Reserve. Still not nesting.   11 hours of nightly activity.
• 64– SW side of the Purua reserve.  Nesting 82 days on 24/10/24. Chick LC2402 transferred to Limestone.
• Tahi – South-eastern Purua reserve behind Alisons’ farm.  Still not nesting. 10 hours of activity.
  ·        Sam– SW edge of Purua reserve.  Nesting 80 days on 24/10/24. Hatched chick LC2404 – transferred to Limestone.
• Derek– On the crater side of “Stump” Ridge South-East Purua reserve.  Still high activity.
• Fletcher– found him again back up behind Lovells’ airstrip, but still not nesting. 11.5 hours activity.
• Rua – Back of Alisons’ farm – nest burrow 5m from the boundary fence with the reserve. Nested 90 days on 6/10/24.  Hatched chick LC2401/Alison transferred to Limestone via Alisons – 3 generations were thrilled to see the chick that they are part of gifting

  Rua’s chick

Trapping/ toxin pulses

October catches: Stoats 1, Weasels 2,- very slow – hopefully kiwi saver pulses have done a big clean out.

 

Cheers Todd

Todd Hamilton

Backyard Kiwi Project Manager

Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum

M 021 1145 385

E  todd.hamilton64@gmail.com