Backyard Kiwi Annual Report
Annual report is out it covers the work of BYK from July 2016-June 2017. It has been another busy and successful year for BYK, thanks to everyone for their hard work and support .
2016-17 Trapping report .

Backyard Kiwi Predator Control Programme:

Catches for August  in the predator traps:
Stoats 2, Weasels 4, Cats 0, Rats 64, Hedgehogs 7 and 3 possums.

I’m changing over from eggs to salted rabbit as a lure with the stoat season about to crank up – September is when the kits are born.

Controlled 1080 pulse in bait stations

Thanks to Martin for working through the paperwork for the controlled 1080 pulse planned for this spring on Manaia and some of the private land at the Heads – see attached info sheet.

Kiwi happenings

The adult breeding males are hard at work incubating nests at the moment – spare a thought for them as they spend 20 hours or more a day on eggs in pampas bushes, burrows or logs for 70-100 days. The female mates are back to high activity feeding up to put back on weight after laying two large eggs.  A female has been making regular visits to Ulrick Schmid’s workshop at Ody road and leaving her markings on the floor there. Ulrick got some video of her so we can see by her size and large bill length that she is a female.

What your radio tracked Backyard Kiwi have been up to:

• Darwin – At the Lamb road quarry nesting in pampas. 35 days nesting 25/8/17. His activity is around 2 hours per night but he had several nights of not leaving the nest at all.
• Lambert – Usual area at Taurikura Ridge. Nesting in the pampas 64 days nesting as of 31/8/17 and 3.5 hours/night activity. Getting close to hatching.
• Whitu – His nest by the big slip west of the freezing works at Reotahi failed. The nest was below a rock face that was much wetter than usual and the nest ended up very wet leading to the eggs rotting (see pic). He is already showing signs of re-nesting so hopefully it is in a drier spot this time.
• EB – He is beside the intersection of Kerr road and Rarangi Heights (see pic). Nesting very close to the road in a pampas bush. The four nearby dog owners are making an extra effort on dog control with his nest so close.  At 38 days nesting on 30/8/17 his activity was 4.5 hours.
• Tindall – Has moved over to the East side of Manaia. His activity is down to 9 hours so he may be starting to nest.
• Pakipaki– In the paddock below the Manaia Club. Activity of 11 hours. This guy is still growing and at almost 2 years old not ready to breed yet.
• Dudin– Still in the horse paddock opposite the fire station.  Activity 12 hours –again at almost 2 years old not ready to breed yet.

ONE program (funded by Kiwis for Kiwi):

The ONE dads at Rarewarewa are hard out nesting, except the Acrobat who is once again proving to be a bit slow off the mark:

• The Acrobat –Usual area, Lovell’s’ bush. Activity 11 hours.
• Waimarie – Nesting in the paddock north of quarry –see if you can spot it in the photo, follow the trail of dirt up to the entrance. 3.5 hours nightly activity at day 25 on 21/8/17.
• Ngutu Roa – Usual area SW reserve. Nesting in a deep burrow, 3.5 hours at day 43.
• Sancho – Usual area – Lovell’s bush. Nesting in totara stand, 4 hours at day 22.
• CFU – Usual area – paddock south of reserve.  Nesting in shallow burrow, 3 hours at day 26.
• Ray- Nesting in usual area east of big slip, 4.5 hours nightly activity at day 24.
• The Boxer- Nesting on steep face at W end of reserve. 3.5 hours activity at day 35.

Up Coming Release at Pataua North
A kiwi release is planned for Pataua North Landcare on Sunday October 8. More details closer to the release.Cheers

 

Todd Hamilton
Backyard Kiwi Project Manager
Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum

M 021 1145 385

E   hamiltont@maxnet.co.nz