A busy month for kiwi events

Owhiwa Landcare trapping workshop – We had a good turnout of people keen to improve their trapping skills at Kerry Martin’s place.  Thanks to Ngaire for organising this as part of the technical support to community groups from the Kiwi Coast.

Parua Bay School Great Kiwi Morning Tea – Sam McNeight followed through on this Kiwis for Kiwi fundraising idea and the school raised over $500 for BYK. Thanks heaps to everyone that helped.  We visited to give a kiwi talk and to thank the kids.

Tutukaka Landcare Kiwi release  – 3 females were transferred from the FOMLI managed Limestone Island to Tutukaka and a male to Sandy Bay as part of our combined ONE release work funded by Kiwis for Kiwi and Kiwi Coast with support from DoC .  These releases were a  great team effort and have a massive positive impact on kiwi recovery. We are planning one in our area for March.

Book Launch “it’s my egg (and you can’t have it!)”  by Heather Hunt and Kennedy Warne.   Last Sunday’s release event was a fantastic celebration of the kiwi recovery work going on- thanks Heather for sharing your amazing talent for telling that story. You can order copies of this beautiful book at: it’s my egg(and you can’t have it)

 

Don’t forget next Friday’s BBQ, thanks to Jo for organising it:

Backyard Kiwi Predator Control Programme:

Catches for November  in the predator traps:
Stoats 2, Weasels 2, Cats 0, Rats 62, Hedgehogs 7 and 5 possums.

Kiwi happenings The kiwi dads are into their second round of nesting.

What your radio tracked Backyard Kiwi have been up to:

• Darwin – At the Lamb road quarry. His recent chick was named “Boomer” by Parua Bay School.  Darwin is nesting again already and was 5 days into his 80 day stint today.
• Lambert – Usual area at Taurikura Ridge. He has re-nested and has now settled into a good low nesting activity of 3.5 hours per night. Hatch is due about xmas.
• Whitu – Re-nested near the Reotahi freezing works. The mercury switch in his transmitter that records his activity (the number of leg jiggles) is playing up so I won’t be able to tell when he hatches his eggs from his data signals. Hatch is due now so I will have to wait until he moves off and try and catch him for a transmitter change then – this will avoid disturbing his nest.
• EB – Nesting again in the pampas at Kerr road. 29 days in on 28/11/17 and 4 hours nightly activity.
• Tindall – This guy has dropped his transmitter, the band holding it on was cracked and split.  He was well settled at the Northern end of Manaia.
• Pakipaki –  In the pampas below the Manaia Club- near the emergency helicopter pad. Jack helped me do his 6 monthly check, he was 2050g and had a bill length of 118.8mm so it looks like he is in fact a she! . Girls have longer bills but because kiwi are so slow growing it can take a few years to confirm their sex.
• Dudin – This guy has dropped right off the radar – last heard in the horse paddock at McLeod’s– it may be transmitter failure, I will keep listening for his signal.

Road kill

A sub-adult, wild hatched kiwi was run over in the usual hot spot between Mcleod’s and the Nook turn off.  He was 1500g and had a bill length of 85.6mm. Once again sad but a good sign that our trapping is working.

 

ONE program (funded by Kiwis for Kiwi):

The ONE dads at Rarewarewa have had an excellent first round of nesting with 11 chicks from 6 nests and are feeding up now to hopefully gain enough condition for a second round of nesting.

• The Acrobat –Usual area in Lovell’s fenced bush. Still not nesting.
• Waimarie –  6 monthly band change done. He was a good 2350g.
• Ngutu Roa- not nesting, high activity.
• Sancho- 6 monthly band change done, 2100g and in reasonable condition after nesting.
• CFU –hiding in a deep tomo in paddock south of reserve. High activity.
• Ray- Usual area by the slip, high activity.
• The Boxer- usual area W end of reserve. Activity high.