Puketotara Landcare kiwi listeners were treated to a special kiwi encounter when completing their Annual Kiwi Call Count Survey monitoring in May.
This article is by Andrew Mentor, Coordinator of the Puketotara Landcare Group.
As I write this from the comfort of home, I look outside to the sheets of cold rain passing over the paddocks. When the weather clears and night falls, hundreds of Northlanders will head outdoors to a kiwi listening spot in the bush.
I will be among those hardy souls who, with anticipation of good results, wrap up in layers with compass, torch and pen in hand.
The annual kiwi listening programme is underway when we get to see if all our efforts through the year have borne fruit.
Conservation of our native environment is an important value we hold as New Zealanders. We like to support the “battlers” like the Brown Kiwi. Fair enough too. They have taken a hiding in the last 100 years, so why not reverse the demise of our national bird?
Out listening the other night, we were given a real treat. Two kiwi passed by us and we could have reached out to touch them. That experience reminded us once again how special the little guys are.
If they sense danger they sometimes freeze where they are. They have very little defense against predators like stoats until they weigh over 1kg. Right now they are out there hunting bugs and putting on weight for the breeding season.
Thanks to you if you are a trapper, a kiwi listener, a stream protector, a tree planter, a responsible dog owner, a donor or a parent who takes your kids to a kiwi release.
Thanks to you if you are a Northlander cheering us on from the sidelines. We are all part of a big team.
Friday’s weather looks to be improving, so rather than sit in front of the TV, I’m going to go bush. I want those kiwi to do a walk past again!
If you want to be part of the kiwi listening team, contact the Kiwi Coast to see if there is a kiwi project near you after some good ears!
