Kiwi Count  for Whāngarei Heads:  1,185 adult kiwi

Thanks to all our official kiwi counters hard work and number crunching the estimated adult kiwi population for the Heads has come out at 1,185 this year, up from last year’s 1,115 count and well up on the 2001 estimate of only 80. This doesn’t include all the kiwi that have walked inland out of the Heads.

This is a very heart warming measure of the effectiveness of the Kiwi Recovery work being done at the Heads. What a fantastic community effort – particularly the crucial good dog control.  Great support by agencies; NRC, Kiwi Coast and DoC.  Special thanks to Ngati Hine who had the faith to gift some of their kiwi to bolster early low numbers and to help engage the community with their kiwi through the release program.

See how the 1,185 estimate is calculated

Whangārei Heads Combined Conservation Christmas Do

Planning ahead – put Friday November 29 in your calendar for the annual Xmas Do.  5pm McLeod Bay Hall

Backyard Kiwi monitored kiwi update for July 2024

Nesting is underway! What the radio monitored kiwi have been up to this month:

 Whangārei Heads/Parua Bay  Radio monitored kiwi:

• Chookie–  He had been nesting 33 days on 24/7/24 in a burrow, in a patch of native below Owhiwa Road on the Martins’ block (see pic of previous nest).   His nightly activity is a good low 3 hours for this reliable nester. He takes that 3 hours for a quick stretch, feed and toilet stop before getting back to his job of incubating the eggs. First egg hatch is due late August.
• Teina– He has continued to cruise up and down his valley of pampas and pines at the north end of Martins’ pine block with no sign of nesting. 10.5 hours activity.
• Beach Girl – She is still cruising the pampas at the top end of Teina’s valley; on the Martins’ and Halses’ blocks boundary between Owhiwa and Ross Roads.  Her nightly activity is 12.5 hours.
• Murdoch  – On Halses’ block closer to the Ross Road side. His activity has dropped and he has started nesting; 8 days in on 31/7/24.  4.5 hours activity at this stage and this should drop as he settles in to incubating.
• Humphries –  Still hanging on the Taraunui Road side of the Martins’ block, 11.5 hours of nightly activity.
• Tanker–  In his usual area of pampas but a bit higher up towards Owhiwa Road.  A busy 13 hours activity.
• Wally– He has started nesting. 5 days in on 25/7/24. 4 hours of nightly activity. Usual nesting area – Pine block at end of Campbell Road.
• Manaaki –  He has dropped off the radar. Last signal 27/6/24 in pines at Martins’ Owhiwa Road block.  Big searches for no signal- we will keep looking.

Kiwi that have walked to the Whareora Landcare area:

• Fetu Mama – She is still up near the peak of the Maungatika Reserve on Mt Tiger.  A pair of kiwi were recorded calling on a KLD (Kiwi Listening Device) there so we hope that she has found a mate! 12 hours nightly activity.
• Te Motu Manu Hine –  She is still in the NRC pine block between Mt Tiger and the old Money Factory on Awaroa Road.  12 hours nightly activity.

Purua ONE Dads
These are the dads we get chicks from to transfer to Limestone Island to grow up before community releases back on the mainland.
Still only two nesting, it’s a start but after last year’s poor breeding season by these guys we are hoping for more soon.

• Moondust  – Nesting in a freshly dug burrow in the paddock below Lovells’ Irving road woolshed (see pic). 4 days in on 24/7/24 and 7.5 hours activity so hopefully he settles in.  This is his first nesting attempt since 2021 so hopefully a good indicator for the nesting season to come.
• Buddha – In his usual area in the paddock north of McGraths’ quarry.  12.5 hours of activity.
• Macio  – On “Kauri Tree Ridge” in south Purua reserve.  11 hours activity
• Otiria –  South end of the Purua Reserve. A very busy 14 hours nightly activity.
• 64 – SW side of the Purua reserve.  11 hours activity.
• Tahi – South-eastern Purua reserve behind Alisons’ farm.  Still a very busy 13 hours of activity.
•  Sam – In the paddock on Hawkins’ place SW of Purua reserve.  12 hours activity.
• Derek – On the crater side of “Stump” Ridge South-East Purua reserve.  13 hours activity.
• Fletcher – No signal – I had a cracked wire on my aerial so struggled to get signals for any distance. Julia is having a look this week – Thanks
• Rua – Nesting up the back of Alisons’ farm.  Julia got his signal on 1/8/24 and he was 25 days into nesting with a nightly activity of 4 hours. This guy had 3 unsuccessful nesting attempts last season so hopefully things go better this year.

Trapping/ toxin pulses

Catches in kiwi predator traps for July: Stoats 3, Weasels 6, Cats 2, Rats 127, Hedge Hogs 0, Possums 9.

The controlled pulse of kiwi saver toxin in bait stations at appropriate sites is underway. This is crucial as it is the only effective way to control trap shy stoats.

Cheers Todd

Todd Hamilton

Backyard Kiwi Project Manager

Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum

M 021 1145 385

E  todd.hamilton64@gmail.com