Quota Conference Kiwi Release June 2010

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

Stanford Womens Rugby Team 24th June 2010

On the 24th June 2010, The women's rugby team of the prestigious Stanford University came and volunteered for the Whakatane Kiwi Trust.  12 girls helped the Trust track kiwi and clear vegetation while some others went to Kawerau to help with 'Habitat for Humanity'.

The day started with breakfast for all prepared by the Trust and talks from David Paine, EBOP's Pest Control Officer and Bridget Evans, the Kiwi Projects Manager.

The girls enjoyed their time in the bush with comments such as "neat day”, “crazy hearing the pinging of the sleeping Kiwi”, “a great tramp”, “the trappers were great and very fit”, “we tried to stay out of the way”, “lunch and the kiwis were terrific”.

The Team presented the Trust with a Sweatshirt that will be auctioned at the Kiwiathon at the end of July 2010.

Kiwi Week and Kiwiathon 2010

Kiwi Week 2010

Monday 26 July to Sunday 1 August

In September 2009 Radio 1XX in Whakatane held the first ever ‘Kiwiathon’ and raised over $3000 for the Whakatane Kiwi Trust. The Kiwiathon included a phone-in auction of items donated by the Whakatane business community, phone-in pledges, kiwi music, kiwi facts, guest speakers and a fund raising Bar-B-Q.
In July 2010, Radio 1XX will again host a Kiwiathon and hopes to raise $10,000 for the Whakatane Kiwi Trust.

Most of the work done by the Whakatane Kiwi Trust, including predator control, kiwi aversion training for dogs, education, kiwi releases, fund raising and publicity, is undertaken by volunteers. Helping the Trust to support its volunteers and to provide support and equipment directly contributes to the wellbeing of the kiwi.
During Kiwi Week, The Whakatane Kiwi Trust will promote Coins for Kiwi - collection buckets will be placed at various locations through the district for customers, clients and staff to place a gold coin donation.We encourage businesses to challenge each other.

The weekend of July 31st and August 1st will again see a Kiwiathon hosted by Radio1XX from 10am to 2pm on both days.An auction on radio willl be held with sponsored goods from various businesses in our district. Sunday afternoon will conclude with a live auction of extra goods,a BBQ,the live draw of our major prize of 2 return flights to Sydney from Harvey World Travel and a Kiwi release all at Radio 1XX - items can be previewed at 1XX.co.nz from 1st July 2010.

Also during the week there will be a static display by Whakatane District Council in the old Briscoes building in the Mall , a Kiwi Encounter educational display in the Info Centre and a dog aversion training session.

Dog Avian Aversion Training 20th June 2010

Do you have a dog and live near native or pine forests?

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

Whakatane Kiwi Trust is providing subsidised aversion training - so book your dog in now!

Training takes just 15 min per dog.

Kiwi Aversion Training
Venue: Hedley Farm, Te Kooti Road, Wainui
Date: Sunday 20th June 2010
Time: 9.00am onwards
Cost: $10 per dog

Bookings essential. Phone: Louiese on 07 308 4890

Help protect Whakatane kiwi

May 2010 Kiwi News

Bridget is back from holiday and has updated us with some news about whats been going on with the kiwi in May!

Ohope Scenic Reserve
Six breeding males are being monitored: Te Hau, Kahurangi, Mika, Two Toes, Big Al and Pouraiti.  Two Toes and Big Al had there transmitters changed this month.

Out of the the newly released chicks/juveniles this month all are doing well.  Ohope is up on Toi's Track and Hawea is still in the reserve and not moving far.  Punga was caught for his first health check and has put on 65gms and now weighs a healthy 1160gms.  Aotearoa, who was released in honour of our new sponsor GBK in the UK, and nicknamed Beetroot, has had his first health check.  He put on 26gms and now weighs 1020gms. Toi has also had a health check and has put on 52gms - he is now at 1050gms.  Whetu who was released in January was caught using Bridget's dog Tai - a specially trained kiwi dog - he looked OK but unfortunately was a bit light.

Generally, in the reserve Bridget has been conducting a call count of the kiwi that live there.  This is using DoC Best Practice Procedures and involves passive listening for an hour, half an hour after dusk, then soliciting calls using recordings of male and females.  She has already heard calls from kiwi without transmitters, possibly 9 males, 3 of which were dueting with females.  She is very excited by this and hopes to catch a couple to use in Operation Nest Egg.

Mokorua
Three of the chicks released here in February were caught for their second health checks. Wiremu weighed 1230gms, Noti weighed 1310gms and Marie weighed 1300gms.  Unfortunately another chick released here, Koru, could not be found.  We are bit worried because of the washout through the reserve since the recent storms. 
Access has been difficult for Bridget as the main stream that runs from the pine block at the southern end of the reserve has completely taken out the track and filled the gully with pine slash. Tai, however, indicated several kiwi tracks in silt that has built up along the stream and none of the seem to be from birds with transmitters.  One was definitely an adult while the other two looked like juvenile birds.  She is very excited by this!

A kiwi we haven't seen for awhile, Te Kauhoe, was consistently 'pinged' this month which has been a relief.
In may Oneone was released here for the Whakatane District Council and he seems to be doing well.

Razorback Ridge
Rewi-Ray, Naomi, Ngahuia, Wharua and Morehu were all 'pinged' this month.  Unfortunately Bridget could not locate Mauri and thinks her transmitter battery might be flat.  Tai however indicted several kiwi poos along the main ridge in Waiotane.

Kohi Point
All of the bird here were pinged each week in May.  There are nine kiwi currently being monitored here.   Three were caught for their health checks.  Kohine was looking good and weighed 1190gms.  Kapua also was looking great and weighed in at 1250gms.  Awanui was caught by our other kiwi monitors Michelle and Laura for his first health check.  Although looking OK he was a little lighter than his release weight.

Moko was also released in May after a ceremony at Paroa School.

Wainui and Waiotane Extension Area
Unfortunately Windi has dropped his transmitter and was living in a swamp so he has been difficult to get to.  He has now moved towards the ridge but without his transmitter.

Moutohora
Morena is due for a transmitter change as is Motu.

Omataroa Kiwi Project
Alaska was returned to the forest this month after a stay at Rosemary Tully's.  unfortunately her transmitter keeps changing to the mortality signal! After this happening a couple times Bridget, Ian, Fran and Laura set out to change it - they finally succeeded.  They also located Vollie.  Recently, 3 males, however have dropped there transmitters.

Bridget would like to say a great thank you to Michelle, Laura and Dave A who monitored the kiwi in her absence. Their help was much appreciated!!!!

Kiwi Call Listening Tours

Although the Ohope Scenic Reserve has been closed to the public, due to landslides on the Fairbrother Loop, the Kiwi Call Listening Tours are still going ahead.  If there is any other news, the people booked in on tours will be advised on the day of their tour. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 07 312 6201 for anymore information.

Thanks
Vicky Kelly

Ohope Scenic Reserve Path Closures

Ohope Scenic Reserve closed until further notice
The Department of Conservation would like to advise anyone that wishes to use the walking tracks in Ohope Scenic Reserve to find alternatives.
The heavy rain over the last ten days has led to numerous slips through Ohope Scenic Reserve, effecting both the Fairbrother Loop and the link section of the wider Nga Tapuwae o Toi track system.
“It is regrettable that we have had to take this step, but it is in the interests of everyone’s safety. This is a very popular track with visitors and locals alike and we will be assessing the situation over the next few days to see what is required to open up the Scenic Reserve again” said John Ballantyne, Programme Manager, Visitor Assets for the Gisborne-Whakatane Area Office.
DOC would like to remind the public that after such extreme weather events to have caution when entering the outdoors. Not all tracks can be checked straight away and if you come across damage (fallen trees or slips across tracks) to let your local DOC office know as soon as possible.
To keep up to date with track closures, please visit http://www.doc.govt.nz/.

Dog Avian Aversion Training 30th May 2010

Sunday saw another successful Avian Aversion Training on Hinemoa Street in Whakatane. Louiese had dogs booked in all day which will greatly help with keeping our kiwi alive.

All dogs love the smell of kiwi and because kiwi can't fly, dogs find them easy to attack and kill.

Dogs need to be trained to leave kiwi alone. This is called avian aversion and awareness training. It is for hunting dogs and any other dogs that work or live around kiwi habitat.

The dogs are trained by getting an electric shock every time they go near kiwi feathers and poos. After some time the dog has learnt that kiwi give you a nasty shock, so they learn to stay away from them. Training takes ten minutes and costs $10 per dog.

Ohope, Kohi Point and Mokorua Scenic Reserves are all no dog zones under Whakatane District Council bylaws. People found to have dogs in one of these reserves will face prosecution and a $300 fine per dog.

Whakatane District Council Kiwi Ceremony 28th May 2010

 

On Friday 28th May 2010 - the Whakatane District Council were honoured for there work and support of the Kiwi Trust with the blessing of their own Kiwi. Oneone, which means earth, is a young male which will probably be followed for the rest of it's life and hopefully become a successful breeding male.