Kiwi News July 2010

Its time to catch up with Bridget and what is happening with our kiwi.

Ohope Scenic Reserve

All kiwi have been pinged here this month.  Some of the Juvies had health checks this month.  Punga had his second health check done and weighed in at 1230gms.  Aotearoa's health check is due, but at present Bridget is unable to find him.  Toi has started to head south and had his second health check.  He weighed in at 1080gms. Rangiremoana and Wainui both had their first health checks in the wild and weighed 1010gms and 1060gms.

In August and in September we are doing egg lifts for Operation Nest Egg. Pouraiti, Mika, Kahurangi and Te Hau are all incubating, so fingers crossed.

Mokorua

All birds have been pinged here this month.  Noti, Wiremu and and Marie are all due to be changed to their adult transmitters. Te Kauhoe will just have his transmitter changed for another juvie one.  Oneone is now due for his second health check.  Koru unfortunately has still not been found, but Michelle and Dave will be going up in a helicopter to see if they can get her signal.

Razorback Ridge

Rewi-Ray, Ngahuia and Morehu were all pinged this month.  However Naomi and Wharua were not found.  There is at present extensive logging happening on the ridge and Bridget is hesitant to venture up there while this is happening.  Also due many slips after the recent weather the road have been closed off.

Kohi Point

Whiuwhiu, Kapu, Te Rangi, Ranginui and Te Ra are all due for their transmitter changes.  Moko will be having his second health check in August.

Wainui

Hirimai had his first health check and is looking very good.  Egg lifts are due here this next month with Rata, Rua, Te Kooti and James all incubating.

Moutohora

Bridget will be heading over to island in August to check all the males and change Motu's transmitter.

Omataroa Kiwi Project

They have caught new new (very large) males here and are now keeping an eye on them.

Kiwi Week and Kiwiathon 2010

The Whakatane Kiwi Trust had another successful Kiwi Week and Kiwiathon.  Thank you to all the volunteers who helped and attended the live auction at Radio 1XX on Sunday 1st August. 

We had a BBQ and announced the winner of the flights to Sydney - thanks Donella and everyone at Harvey World Travel.

Also thanks to Putauaki School who has been studying kiwi in class and turned up with an amazing poster of a kiwi that was covered in donations from their school.  Thanks Guys!!! 

They also stayed on and Guss our Avian Aversion Trainer showed them how training dogs to avoid kiwi can help the kiwi to survive.

We are still counting the donations - so watch this space to see how much we have raised.

Thanks everyone!!!!!

Avian Aversion Training 1st August 2010

Dogs pose a serious threat to the survival of kiwi. By having your dog kiwi aversion trained, you can reduce the risk of your dog killing kiwi.

The next training will be on 1st August 2010


Near Radio 1XX, Whakatane as part of the Trusts Kiwi Week.

$10 per dog.

To book please phone Louiese on 07 308 4890

Kiwi News June 2010

Hi all, this is the latest kiwi news from Bridget Evans, our Project Manager.

Ohope Scenic Reserve

All birds were 'pinged' this month.  As well as our other adult males, Bridget found another male near the Fairbrother Loop who now has a transmitter on and has been called Krishna.  Bridget thinks he is a lonely male but she is keeping an eye on him.

The Juvies are doing well.  Ohope is now in the central Fairbrother Loop Track. Hawea was caught for a transmitter change and a health check. He was a bit light at 1275gms, so has not progressed to the adult transmitter.  Whetu was caught and now has an adult transmitter on.  He weighed in at 1320gms and will be checked again in six months. Punga, Aotearoa and Toi are due health checks soon. 

Bridget released two new chicks this month, Rangireremoana and Wainui.  Rangi is from Omataroa and Wainui is from Wainui.  The were dedicated to all the Trappers and Volunteers who help the Trust.

It's now breeding season, and four males in Ohope have started to incubate.  Our first egg lift will be at the end of August.

This month has also seen Bridget conducting a Kiwi Survey in the Ohope Scenic Reserve.  Rough figures seem to indicate 26 male Kiwi, 15 of which are paired up.

Mokorua

3 of the 4 birds released here in February are still in the reserve.  Noti however is starting to move towards the southern boundary.  Koru has still not been found, but Bridget has not got a mortality signal on the transmitter either, so there is still hope. Oneone had his first health check and weighed in at 1070gms.

Razorback Ridge.

All birds were 'pinged' here.

Kohi Point

Ten kiwi are being monitored here and all have consistently 'pinged'.  Whiuwhiu had his transmitter changed for an adult one.  Awanui had an early health check, all good but Bridget had to change his transmitter band.  Moko had his first health check and weighed in at 1210gms.  Orini is due his first health check.

Wainui

Te Kooti is incubating, it's his first lot.  Rata is also incubating.  A young chick from Toes Twos called Hirimai was released into Wainui following a ceremony at the Marae at the end of Te Kooti Road.

Moutohora

Morena's transmitter was changed this month.  He was found in a burrow with a very big Awhi!  Motu's transmitter change and health check is due soon.

We are now all looking forward to egg lifts and a new season of kiwi chicks.

Out pinging Kiwi with Laura Morgan

I managed to get out of the office today and went pinging Kiwi with Laura Morgan, one of our dedicated volunteers. We were also joined by Ruairi Kelly and Sam Thompson.  Laura goes out regularly to help Bridget 'ping' kiwi that we have transmitters on. 

It is important to do this so we can keep a track on where the kiwi are, whether they are incubating, and to help us track them for their health checks. Each kiwi has a certain channel they are on and the sound that is detected can tell us what is happening to them.  When they are incubating the 'ping' is different from when they are not.

Today I, Ruairi and Sam had a go at using the ariel and we picked up most of the kiwi in the area.

Vicky Kelly

Volunteers and Trappers BBQ and Kiwi Ceremony 7th July 2010

On the 7th July 2010 the Whakatane Kiwi Trust held a BBQ and special Kiwi ceremony for the volunteers and trappers who help the Trust.

The Trust honoured the Trappers who tirelessly devote themselves to ridding the bush of pests such as rats, stoats and weasels that were brought to New Zealand.

Other volunteers were also honoured, including the Kiwi Call Listening Tours team led by Russell Ingram-Seal and the people who help Bridget Evans, The Kiwi Project Manager, in the field.

Two Kiwi were blessed - one from Wainui and the other from the Omataroa Project.  Both will be released into the Ohope Scenic Reserve.

For more photos of the evening see the slideshow to the left of the screen.

Quota Conference Kiwi Release June 2010

Here are some photos from the recent kiwi ceremony at the Quota Conference here in Whakatane.