Kiwi Predator Control Programme:

The stoat run has definitely dropped off as expected for this time of year, have moved checks out to monthly.
Traps for February– 2 stoats, 1 weasel, 0 cat, 31 rats, 13 possums and 4 hedgehogs.
Tally for season to date 29 stoats, 7 weasels, 9 cats, 213 rats, 72 possums and 33 hogs.

Kane from the NRC has order us some more Timms traps for possums – numbers are building up in Mt Manaia with no control there for a few years now so if you think you can put 1 or more to use please let me know. Overall possum numbers are way down in the Whangarei Heads compared to a few years ago – it would be good to keep chipping away at the remaining population. The fantastic pohutakawa flowers back in early summer show that we have made a difference.

Kiwi monitoring:

Our adult kiwi seem to have coped well with the very dry summer – apart from Darwin there was no autumn breeding meaning they haven’t had to work too hard over the dry period and are still in reasonable condition. The data streams from their transmitters are showing activities of about 10-11 hours per night, which is the same as the past 3 autumns.

When the rain comes the breeding season should kick off with lots of calling.

What some of your kiwi are up to:

Darwin – After Darwin left his nest I DNA sampled and ID chipped his recently hatched chick – he was named “James” by the landowners at Lamb Road (see photo). No second egg in nest. After multiple unsuccessful visits to the pampas in the Lamb road quarry I finally caught up with Darwin in the wetland beside the road for his annual transmitter change, he was in good condition and weighed 2005g.
Whitu – Usual area Reotahi – activity of 11 hours per night. Kane helped me catch him in the pampas for his 6 monthly check (see photo) – 2005g and reasonable condition. A stay dog was report near Whitu this month but he managed to stay safe.
Dallas – Has moved up to the pines by the School – 11 hours activity.
Lambert – Usual area Taurikura Ridge – activity of 11 hours per night.
Waka – Usual area Mckenzie Bay – activity of 10 hours per night.
Charlotte – in the pampas on the point between Taurikura Bay and McKenzie Bay – Kane helped me catch her for her 6 monthly check – a healthy 2450g and a bill length of 123.5mm (see photo)– which has grown from the last check, showing that she is a young bird and still growing (she is a wild kiwi I found back in 2011). This is a good indication that our stoat trapping is working.

JR – Usual area –South Taurikura Ridge above Urquarts Bay – activity of 11 hours per night.
Charlie – Still showing high activity (11.5 hours) at Craig Road – doesn’t look like he will nest this year.
Kiwiana – At the southern end of Mt Manaia. His activity is around 11 hours per night.
Webb – This is the young female we released in January – caught up with her in pines at Odys for a health check – all good (see photo).
Clover – This is the young male we recently released – he is now about half way along the eastern side of Mt Manaia and cruising around.