Pataua North Landcare have bolstered their fledgling kiwi population with ten new recruits. The new kiwi were welcomed by a crowd of over 150 people who were thrilled to see the wild kiwi up close before they were released into the community’s 800 hectare pest controlled area.
‘Hautoa’ (meaning brave or courageous) was one of the four kiwi shown briefly to the crowd during the afternoon’s public event, before the kiwi were released later in the evening into pre-prepared burrows within the restored native forest at Pataua North.
Dr John Craig, coordinator of the Pataua North Landcare Group, worked closely with iwi and the Department of Conservation to ensure the translocation of went smoothly.
Dr Craig said “We released these new birds in places where existing kiwi have set up territories in the hope that they will pair up and begin breeding. Our aim is to re-establish a thriving kiwi population at Pataua North for generations to come.”
The ten new kiwi joined thirteen Northland brown kiwi previously released by Pataua North Landcare during May and October in 2017. The kiwi released at Pataua have all grown up on the predator free kiwi creches of either Motuora Island in the Hauraki Gulf or Matakohe-Limestone Island in the Whangarei Harbour. Once the kiwi are over 1kg in weight, they are ready to graduate from their creche – and need to be caught, given a health check, and fitted with identifying microchips.
Rolf Fuchs from the Whangarei office of the Department of Conservation led the kiwi-catching crew on Motuora Island the night before the release.
Rolf explained “We worked from 6pm – 2am to find five males and five female kiwi on Motuora. It was a long night, but we worked well as a team and it was great to catch ten healthy kiwi for Pataua North and help them boost their kiwi population further.”
In line with the Pataua North Landcare Kiwi Translocation Plan, a total of forty kiwi will be released into the area to establish a founding population with strong genetic diversity.
In addition to the microchips, each of the male kiwi were also fitted with small radio transmitters to help monitor the growing kiwi population. Since it is the sole job of Northland brown kiwi “dad’s” to incubate any eggs for 60 – 70 nights, monitoring the activity of male kiwi yields the vital information about formation of pairs, nesting attempts and breeding success.
Kiwi Coast Coordinator Ngaire Tyson said “With the local landowner’s good dog control, and ongoing predator control supported by the Northland Regional Council and Kiwi Coast, these kiwi should live for 50 – 60 years. We hope they will find mates, breed and have many chicks that will repopulate neighbouring community-led pest controlled areas at Owhiwa, Taheke and Mt Tiger.”
To get involved in Pataua North Landcare or find out about how to look after your local kiwi contact Ngaire the Kiwi Coast Coordinator.
