Close encounter with kiwi
February Kiwi Release at Whangarei Heads.
Pakipaki
Dudin
Two new monitored birds ‘Pakipaki’ and ‘Dudin’ have settled in at McLeod Bay.
Over 400 people made their way up the hill through Leahy’s farm in McLeod Bay, Whangarei Heads to see 3 kiwi released onto Mt Manaia -a beautiful healthy female Taputini was also released.
400 people attended this kiwi release
Emma with Taputini
Todd told us about the unique behaviour and physiology of kiwi and explained their particular sensitivities to smell and sound and explained how delicate and brittle their breast bones are which makes them vulnerable to physical contact with dogs and humans.
The crowd was fantastic to work with, respecting our request to stay where they were and let us bring the kiwi to them.
100’s of people got to see kiwi very close
Todd tells the story
learning about kiwi in our backyard
Todd and Emma walked amongst the people with their minders –Phillip King (Chairman – Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum) and Ngarie Tyson (Regional coordinator – Kiwi Coast). Our minders navigate and guide the kiwi handler through the crowd checking who is waiting to see the birds and helping explain the birds and project as they walk quietly through the throngs of people
Dudin up close with Todd and minder Philip
we could smell live kiwi
It was a privilege to walk through private land up to the bush line and farewell these kiwi – Special thanks to the Leahy family for allowing Backyard Kiwi and the public onto their property,
Huge thanks to Todd Hamilton who plans these events, takes charge of the day and most importantly ensures the birds are safe and settled and because of his concern hard work and attention to detail thousands of people have now had a close encounter with a live kiwi
Finally thanks to the Backyard Kiwi team who work behind the scenes to support these events
on the way to the burrows
farewell at the top burrow