After we (the Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum) had been trapping stoats at the Whangarei Heads for a couple of years we radio tracked some kiwi chicks to see if they were surviving or not .  Without trapping, scientific research had shown that over 90% of kiwi chicks were killed by stoats.  If the chicks were surviving to a weight of 1,000 grams then it would be a good indication that our predator trapping programme was working. Once 1,000 grams in size a kiwi can fight off most stoats.

In October 2004 “Jackie” hatched in “Oscar’s” nest on the McLeod Bay side of the Nook peninsula.  Using a radio receiver we were able to track Jackie’s radio transmitter on her leg and find her for regular “Plunket”checks.

 Here’s a sample of Jackie’s “Plunket” checks until she reached the magical 1,000 grams:

Date	Weight	Bill length
Oct 2004	262g	47.8mm
Nov 2004	495g	55.3mm
Dec 2004	510g	58.5mm
Jan 2005	645g	63.6mm
Feb 2005	780g	67.3mm
Mar 2005	830g	71.0mm
Apr 2005	940g	73.1mm
May 2005	920g	76.6mm
June 2005	1050g	81.9mm

It is worth noting that none of the seven young kiwi chicks we monitored got “stoated” – so that is good indication for our trapping programme.

As for Jackie, she kept on growing and also started wandering all over the Nook.

Date	Weight	Bill length
August 2005	1140g	90.1mm
November 2005	1400g	95.2mm
February 2006	1505g	104.4mm
December 2006	1960g	123.5mm
May 2007	2100g	128.8mm
December 2007	2260g	133.6mm
December 2008	2220g	135.7mm
June 2009	2450g – as she gets older Jackie will continue to get heavier. Some female kiwi weigh close to 4 kg!	135.7mm – once the bill stops growing it is an indication that the kiwi has reached maturity.

So after 5 years our girl Jackie had grown up. Kiwi hold the distinction of being the world’s slowest growing bird – but on the up side they are usually very long lived once mature – over 50 years on average if dogs are controlled in the area.

Jackie has now settled down in the Nook at Tahunatapu Road and in 2009 Todd found her in a burrow with a mate at Philip and Jeanette Kings’ property.  Her mate was duly named  “Spratt” – as in Jack Spratt.

Jackie and Spratt have had two nests over the 2009/2010 nesting season. Unfortunately, like a lot of first time breeders those eggs have failed but the couple are still practicing and can look forward to 50 years together to added to the healthy Nook kiwi population.