The last two kiwi in the Far North monitored with transmitters – Graham and Terry – have both had them removed due to Department of Conservation regulations.
Both kiwi were monitored by the Mahinepua Radar Hill Landcare Group (MRHLG) but the transmitters had to be removed in late February at the request of DOC as the permit had expired. Despite the efforts of the long-standing community-led kiwi recovery project to renew their permit and continue the monitoring (with independent funding, resources and labour) the renewal request remains pending.
Kiwi Coast assisted MRHLG with the transmitter removal in February. Data collected remotely each week by trained local volunteers using telemetry equipment had provided crucial information on Far North kiwi breeding, feeding, dispersal and survival. Trail cameras in their territories were used to watch their nests for predator presence as well as record images of kiwi chicks and adults that yielded interesting information on their behaviour and interactions.
Knowing where the wild kiwi had chosen to nest or when they were moving through private properties with dogs also gave an added boost to the communities’ dedicated dog control programme and local communications. This helped keep other local kiwi safe too.
The Group commented: “With climate change having a real impact on these wonderful birds, we hope that DOC grant a new permit so that we can continue to be able to monitor, see how they cope and how they can improve their chances of surviving in the future”.
Lesley Baigent removes Terry’s transmitter.
During regional climate events, such as the 2019 and 2020 droughts, Kiwi Coast had compiled data from the Mahinepua kiwi with data from other monitored kiwi around Northland to gain essential insights in to how kiwi were faring. These data showed kiwi were active during the hours of daylight and were foraging for over 12 hours each 24 hour period in order to gain enough food. It also showed the movement of kiwi into gullies, waterways and wetlands. Importantly, the data from the two Far North kiwi showed that they were foraging for even longer hours during the droughts than kiwi in Whangarei and on the west coast, potentially due to the higher temperatures and even drier conditions.
Far North Kiwi Coast Coordinator and accredited kiwi handler Lesley Baigent worked closely with the Mahinepua Radar Hill Landcare Group to provide support and technical assistance for transmitter changes and six monthly health checks.
Lesley says “These two kiwi were the only ones monitored north of Whangarei and it is a great loss of a valuable tool for Far North kiwi. However we have not given up! We are also working with the Department of Conservation to see how Kiwi Coast can support Far North kiwi projects with monitoring over a wider area to yield robust data that will give us the insights and information needed to ensure the long term survival of Northland brown kiwi. With extreme climate events predicted to increase in severity and frequency, and hit the Far North particularly hard, this work is crucial.”
