Whakatane Kiwi Trust Welcomes GBK as a new corporate sponser with a Kiwi Release

Fans of the fabulous GBK Kiwiburger will be munching for a cause from April 2010.

GBK, the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, is a ‘posh burger’ company started by three kiwi backpackers in 2001 in the UK. GBK is now established throughout mainland UK.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen (gbk) is kick starting Spring by doing their bit to help save New Zealand’s endangered Kiwi. For every Kiwiburger purchased from the new Spring Menu, gbk will make a voluntary donation on the customer’s behalf of 25p which will go to help save the iconic New Zealand Kiwi in Whakatane. Special Thanks to GBK for all the support...
 
GBK MD, David Sykes, said that GBK was thrilled to be partnering with such a successful kiwi conservation project that was so well supported by its community, Councils, DoC and local Ngati Awa iwi.
“We are very proud of GBK’s New Zealand heritage and we consider it very appropriate that our gorgeous Kiwiburger can help a New Zealand kiwi conservation project,” said Cat Kebbeh, GBK’s Head of Marketing.

Cat Kebbeh said that GBK was looking forward to developing a long-term relationship with the Whakatane Kiwi Trust and watching kiwi flourish in Whakatane.

The Trust celebrated with a release of a special kiwi in honour of GBK.  Aotearoa was released in the Ohope Scenic Reserve by the Trusts Project Manager Bridget Evans.  He will hopefully go on to become a future breeding male.

Aotearoa was a natural in the limelight, posing for the cameras of the New Zealand Herald.

Special Naming Ceremony for the Environment Bay of Plenty Councillors

Thursday 22nd April saw a naming ceremony for one of our young kiwi chick.  This was especially for the councillors of Environment Bay of Plenty who have supported the Whakatane Kiwi Project and Trust greatly over the years.

The kiwi is named Toitehuatahi and will be released into the Ohope Scenic Reserve with a transmitter, for Bridget to track him.  It is hopeful he will become a future breeding male.

Nocturnal Kiwi Listening Walks

On April 20th 2010 The Whakatane Kiwi Trust began its series of nocturnal kiwi listening walks. These are run by long time volunteer for the Trust, Russell Ingram-Seal, with the help other experienced volunteer leaders. These walks will bring local members of the community and visitors to our town into the bush in the evenings to hear the call of our elusive iconic bird, the kiwi, a rare treat that we are lucky to have in Whakatane.

The walks also give the volunteers opportunities to record call counts to help with knowledge of the birds within the greater Whakatane district.

The walks start at 7pm and last for two hours, this includes an introduction to the area and work being done to protect kiwi. A good level of physical fitness is needed.

Dates for the next walks are (subject to weather):

May: 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th, 17th, 19th

June: 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th

Adults: $15
Children (aged 8 to 17): $10
No children under 8 please.
Family Group (2 adults and 2 Children): $40

Children must be accompanied by one adult to each child.
School bookings are also possible.

For more information and bookings please contact Vicky Kelly on:

07 312 6201

Email: admn-whakatane.kiwi@windowslive.com

March/April 2010 Kiwi News

Here is another report from our Project Manager - Bridget Evans.

Ohope Scenic Reserve
All bird that are tagged pinged this last month.  There are six breeding males being monitored - Te Hau, Kahurangi, Mika, Two Toes, Big Al and Pouraiti.
Te Hau, Mika and Kahurangi has had their health check and transmitter changed.  Two Toes and Big Al are due for their transmitter change.

Out of the Juvies, Kohi has been caught and had her transmitter emoved as she is now over 12 months old.  Ohope was caught early April and all is ok.  Tokamauku was caught and had its transmitter removed.  Hawea has gone into Mika's territory, has had a health check and all is ok. Whetu is proving hard to catch.  He is Mika's territory and very near Hawea, but keeps being in swamp land so Bridget can't catch him!

Te Hau's only chicks have been released, the male is called Awanui but we are yet to name the female chick.  They were dedicated at a public release at Ohope Beach School on the Easter weekend.  Also released this month was Punga, Pouraiti's second chick.

In the Reserve, Night Listening Tours have started - see the 'Whats Happening' column - and we will be beginning call counts this season to keep an eye on kiwi numbers in the reserve.

Mokorua
There were four new chicks released here in February  Their names are Wiremu, Noti, Marie and Koru. They were all caught for their first health checks this month and all is ok.  All of them but Wiremu seems to be difficult to track as they are wandering quite widely.  Te Kauhoe who also lives here has also moved so Bridget is finding a challenge locating them all.

Razorback Ridge
Rewi-Ray has moved and hasn't been pinged for two weeks.  NgaHuia is now in Waiotane, as is Noami.  Wharua was released into Waiotane and is now heading south, and with a long time of treking Bridget caught her close to Tanetua.  She is now residing on a farm amongst the pines and pampas!!

Kohi Point
All the birds have pinged here each week.  All of the eight kiwi monitored here seem to be staying in the gorge during the dry weather.  After the bit of rain, however, they moved back to their usual spots.  There was a through search for Ranginui but without any success.  A new kiwi, Awanui, who was dedicated at Ohope Beach School on Easter weekend, was released here and is still near the release site.

Wainui
Out of the seven kiwi monitored here most of the males have had their transmitters changed.  There is plans to release two chicks here in July.

Waiotane Extension Area
As mentioned above, all is well. Morehu is still near Razorback Ridge and Mauri seems to be staying close to a private property.

Moutohora
3 birds are tagged here.  Tumanako has had his heath check and transmitter change.  He looked beautiful and weighed in at a hefty 2.31kg.  Humbumble has managed to drop her transmitter and Morena was nowhere to be found.

Omataroa Kiwi Project
Two chick were released here in March, but unfortunatley Alaska had to be taken to Rosemary Tully after she was discover with her transmitter on a mortality signal just six days after being released.  She has now been taken to Kiwi Encounter but her condition still remains a mystery.

February 2010 Kiwi News

Well we have news from our Project Manager Bridget Evans, on how our kiwis are doing out there:

There are six areas being monitored in Ohope Scenic Reserve, Mokorua and Kohi Point Reserves, Wainui, Moutohora, Omataroa and Waiotane.

Ohope Senic Reserve
We have 11 birds tagged here and all have been pinging regularly this last month.
We are monitoring 6 breeding males: Te Hau, Kahurangi, Mika, Two Toes, Big Al and Pouraiti.  We also have 5 juvies here - Kohi, Ohope, Tokamauku, Hawea and Whetu. Whetu was released at the beginning of January 2010, and Bridget tried to catch half way through February but unfortunately he was in gnarly swamp and eluded her.  They are all doing fine and its been a fairly quiet month.

Mokorua
Te Kauhore, the last kiwi to remain here  was found.  Four babies were realeased into the reserve: Wiremu, Noti, Marie and Koru.  They are going to be checked in March and Bridget has been using her dog 'Tai' to locate them.

Razorback Ridge
2 kiwis have pinged here in February.  Naomi was hiking back north and Ngahuia was also heading north.

Kohi Point
All birds here pinged each week in February.  7 kiwis are being monitored in this reserve.  Kohine and Kapua were released at the beginning of February and had their first health checks at the beginning of March.  They have put on at least 25gms and are doing well.  Kapu Te Rangi is very close to his original release site and had his transmitted changed to an adult one.  His current weight is 1330gms.  Te Whetu was also spotted but Ranginui seems to be eluding Bridget.  Whiuwhiu and Te Ra have both set up territories.

Wainui
Quiet month here and all 7 kiwis here are due for a transmitter change.

Waiotane
3 kiwi are being tracked here, and all have pinged regulary.  Morehu and Mauri are doing well, but there has been a concern over their weight gain at their last health check and their progress will be assessed in April.

Moutohora
5 birds are tagged here but not one has pinged in February.

Omataroa
7 kiwi are tagged here, but only 1 breeding male is being monitored. as 2 have lost their transmitters this season and 2 haven't bred. 5 eggs have been taken to Kiwi Encounter.

What is a Kiwi?

What is a Kiwi?


Kiwi are the smallest members of a group of birds called ratites, a group of flightless birds that includes rheas of South America, ostriches of Africa, emu of Australia, and cassowary of Papua New Guinea and the extinct moa of New Zealand.

External Features

The external features are the features of a kiwi that are most easily recognised are:

• flightless with only tiny wings

• no tail

• feathers very soft and hang loose, like hair

• extremely long bill with nostrils at the end

• legs are powerful and muscular

• fleshy footpads and a silent walk

Senses

Like humans, all animals have the senses of sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell. Kiwi have well developed senses for living in their environment.

• strong sense of smell due to very well developed olfactory lobe

• excellent hearing with large and visible ear openings

• cat-like whiskers on its face and around the base of its bill

• small eyes, can see well at night and in daylight too

Internal Features

The internal features are the features that cannot be easily seen. These can only be seen by xrays, ultrasound, or dissection.

• cone-shape skeleton, topped with a strong neck and a small head

• no keeled sternum to hold the flight muscles

• bones filled with marrow. Being flightless, bones do not have to be extra light

• large nasal cavities, for a greater sense of smell

• blood temperature is much lower than most other birds; between 37°C and 38°C

Behaviour

Kiwi build burrows in the ground that they sleep in. Kiwi have large territories and defend these by calling at important points. Kiwi can be good fighters, they can use their strong, solid legs and large claws.

At night, kiwi can be heard sniffing around in the dark and rustling leaves and twigs on the ground.

When danger is near a kiwi will sniff the air to sense whether they are safe. They are omnivores and locate their food by smell alone.

Kiwi usually mate for life. The female is bigger and dominates the male. Having one partner for life and the male sitting on the eggs is rare among birds. Kiwi can live as long as 40 to 50 years.


© Copyright Heurisko Ltd 2008

Kiwi Facts

Here are some Quick facts about Kiwi's

-Originally it was thought that The Kiwi's came from its call, a kind of 'Creech' sound, but it is actually from the Polynesian name for the Bristled- Thighed Curlew, the Kivi.  This bird has the same way of feeding as the Kiwi.

-It has very strong legs for burrowing and ripping apart vegetation.  These are very different than other birds legs and more like mammals - even with bone marrow.

-The Kiwi cannot fly and live in burrows on the ground with quite a large wandering range.  Then can travel up to 1 km in a night.

-Its diet is mainly worms, spiders, bugs, grubs and fruit.  Captive bred Kiwi's are fed ox hearts.

-A Kiwi's egg is large compared with the size of its body (An egg averages 20% of the females weight, compared to 2% for an Ostrich).

-The female is larger than the male. In some varieties, mainly the North Island Brown, the males are the ones that sit on the egg.

-Kiwi's have a good sense of smell and have nostrils on the end of their beak, the only bird to have this.  The snuffling noise they make is them trying to smell for their food.

-The Kiwi belongs to a group of birds called Ratities of which is the smallest member. This group includes some of the worlds biggest birds like the Emu, Ostrich, as well the extinct Moa and the Elephant Birds of Madagascar.  Ratities have a different bone structure than most birds, with less developed flight muscles.

-It has an average body temperature of 38 degrees C, which is 2 degrees lower than other birds and two degrees higher than humans.  It is very similar to other small mammals.

Kiwi's are more like mammals than birds, which makes them unique and special.