We released two more kiwi at the Heads this month.  These kiwi came from Limestone as part of our ONE programme. “JJ” (a female named after Heather and Greg Stump of FOMLI) and “Kiwiana” (a young male named by Whangarei Heads School) were released at Dudins’ farm at McLeod Bay after visiting Whangarei Heads School first. JJ has moved high up onto Manaia Ridge and Kiwiana has made his way over the ridge and then back to above the school.
 
Meanwhile the local kiwi dads continue their second round of nesting for the season. Otherwise November was not a good month for WHLF monitored kiwi with a drowning, a transmitter failure and several kiwi being uncooperative for their transmitter changes.
 
• Darwin – Is showing high activity – hopefully feeding up for a second nest at Lamb road
• Whitu- Is sitting tight on his second nest – due to hatch late
• Dallas-  Still feeding up between nests near the main road below the Heads
• Lambert- Holding tight on his second nest – due to hatch late December.
• Waka- Unfortunately Waka’s transmitter has failed – hopefully he is doing ok at Mckenzie Bay.
• Charlotte- (Waka’s mate) Is spending time in the pampas on the point between Mckenzie Bay and Taurikura Bay.
• JR- Is due his 6 monthly check but is hiding in dense Kiekie at the southern end of Taurikura ridge.
• Charlie- This young fella –he is 3 years old this month- is still enjoying the single life.
• Drummond – We released Drummond at Kauri Mt back in July and she has stuck close to the release site – unfortunately this young kiwi did not show good water sense and has drowned in a dam – not an uncommon death for young wild kiwi before the mature.