Good news! TJ the kiwi chick who was found dehydrated out at Whangarei Heads during the drought has made a full recovery.
TJ was discharged from the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Center and returned home last week. For the full story by Backyard Kiwi of TJ’s recovery and return home take this link: http://www.backyardkiwi.org.nz/kiwi-chick-revived-and-thriving.
In February, Kiwi Coast reported that kiwi chicks were being found dehydrated and malnourished as a result of the drought. Two kiwi chicks were found wobbling around during the day at Tutukaka and Whangarei Heads by landowners and handed into the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre.
Unfortunately, the Tutukaka chick did not recover and has now been sent for a post mortem to Massey University to try and find out a bit more information.
TJ however was brought back to full health by the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery crew, responding well to their care and increasing in weight from 219g – 440g over his six weeks of convalesence.
Todd Hamilton from Backyard Kiwi says “With all the rain over the last week, it was time to return TJ home to where he was found. Now the ground isn’t hard and dry, he’ll be able to feed well and keep growing.”
TJ was named after Terry and Jenny Gill who was found the dehydrated chick at Whangarei Heads. Terry was delighted to be there to see the chick returned home safely to where he was found in such a bad state just a few weeks ago.
