2017-February Update
Recent Kiwi Release
Thank you for all the hard work that went into the very successful kiwi release at Leahy’s a few weeks back. The turnout of 400 people was great, approx. 300 identifying themselves as local, which was a fantastic indication of the ongoing engagement of our community with their kiwi.
Since his release “Dudin” has settled into the bush on the edge of eastern Manaia. Meanwhile “Pakipaki” has been having a good nosey around McLeod Bay, within two days he had moved down to a patch of roadside pampas right in the middle of the residential area. He has been back up the side of Manaia and then down into the rank kikuyu in the ‘horse paddock’ opposite the fire station. Check out the release story and pictures
Backyard Kiwi Predator Control Programme
After the December spike of stoats catch numbers have dropped off as expected. Weasel catches have picked up again.
Catches for month in the predator traps:
Stoats 2, Weasels 7, Cats 8, Rats 56, Hedgehogs 19 and 12 possums.
Northland Kiwi Hui (supported by Kiwis for kiwi and Predator Free NZ)
There was a big turnout for the Northland Kiwi hui a couple of Sundays back showing that Northland continues to lead the way in community based kiwi recovery. There were plenty of very good speakers.
A couple of key points:
Dave Hansford – spoke of the trend to denial of science by some sections of NZ and the risk of this to kiwi recovery etc though misinformation against the successful use of 1080.
Prof Carol King – outlined the large amount of research that shows avoidance of traps by some stoats and how secondary poisoning with a controlled 1080 pulse can deal with this.
Phil Bell of ZIP – reported on the ZIP study block that is a stoat free peninsula and how some radio monitored stoats moved through a “barrier” of 6 trap lines multiply times avoiding traps.
For more details on these and other talks go to: Northland Hui Presentations The ongoing research shows the importance of complimenting our extensive trapping network at the Whangarei Heads with periodically, controlled pulses of secondary poisoning using 1080 and Brodifacoum. This is something that we have been doing since 2010 so our kiwi chick survival should be good – this is confirmed with our increasing kiwi call counts.
TJ almost ready to returnThe dehydrated chick “TJ” found at Mckenzie Bay is now healthy and growing well at the WNBRC and will be returning soon.
Possible Dog Kill It is not all good news. A landowner found the remains of kiwi on their property at the northern western end of Manaia . The bill length of 120mm shows it was a female, she had no ID chip so is wild hatched and grown. The ribs looked to be broken in places which is classic dog kill sign. I will get an expert to look at the bones.
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Kiwi remains[/profile]
Other Happenings
Drafted Kiwis for kiwi funding application. We are once again applying to the this long-time funder of our combined ONE programme (BHCT, BYK, TCPCA, TLC) for funds to continue the work for the next year.
Attended Kiwi Coast Think Tank meeting. Kiwi Coast just keeps going from strength to strength. The NRC has funded the “Kiwi Link CPCA” $60,000/year for the next 5 years. This will ensure the area between the Whangarei Heads and Tutukaka is trapped by the community groups protecting the increasing numbers of kiwi there.
Kiwi Coast Kiwi Event and Tanekaha CPCA release. Last Sunday 2 kiwi were transfered from Limestone (thanks FOMLI for this fantastic kiwi crèche!) and released with the locals at the Tanekaha farmer driven kiwi recovery project. Ngarie Tyson had organised a Kiwi Coast event to recognise and thank community groups working hard at kiwi recovery in Northland. Many of these folks rarely get the chance to see kiwi up close so this was an opportunity to do that. The names of the kiwi reflected multi generationally community kiwi work: “Geoff” after the late Geoff Wightman of Waimatea North Landcare who was a key driver of the establishment of community landcare work in Northland. And “Charlie” named by FOMLI after Emma and Jono’s young son Charlie who are the rangers on Limestone Island .
What your radio tracked Backyard Kiwi have been up to:
The males have finished their second round of nesting for the season and will be loving this rain.
Darwin – Usual area Lamb road quarry. Has successful finished his nest beside Manaia Excavators truck yard. He hatched two chicks that I DNA sampled and ID chipped
Lambert – Usual area at Taurikura Ridge. He has also hatched his two chicks from his second nest of the season, again DNA sampled and ID chipped. Dad was 1840g and in good condition considering he has had two nests over a dry summer. Lambert has had 24 chicks in the last 8 years!! Unfortunately one of these recent chicks has just drowned in an irrigation dam – she had moved 600m downhill out of the pampas and was only a month old. This was just before the rain came so she must have been after the moisture in the hot dry conditions.
Whitu – In pampas by the freezing works at Reotahi. Frank Bates helped me catch with this guy recently so I could do his annual transmitter change, he was a healthy 2250g.
EB – In the pampas at Kerr road. As suspected his activity was too high to successfully complete his nest and the single egg was dead. He is just a young guy learning the ropes still.
Tindall – Still on NE Manaia with high activity of 10hours.
ONE program (funded by Kiwis for Kiwi):
The ONE dads at Rarewarewa have all but finished their second round of nesting:.
The Acrobat – Usual area, Lovell’s’ bush high activity.
Waimarie – Nesting in the paddock below the quarry hatch due later this month.
Ngutu Roa – Nest at western end of reserve failed. Dad now high activity.
Sancho – Nest finished with successful hatch of single egg, Chick LC 1614 was transferred to Limestone on 19/2/17.
CFU – Second egg died near end of incubation. Dad now high activity.
Ray- High activity after nesting.
The Boxer – Usual area NW end of reserve – high activity..
Cheers
Todd Hamilton
Backyard Kiwi Project Manager
Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum
M 021 1145 385