Six kiwi released on mountain
Mt Taranaki’s kiwi population has grown by six after the release of three male and three female birds at the weekend.
The kiwi were set free on Saturday afternoon at an event attended by more than 70 people and organised by the Taranaki Kiwi Trust. The three male kiwi were fitted with transmitters so they could be monitored.
Trust manager Michelle Bird said the trust would be able to follow the birds’ movements and monitor their breeding attempts.
‘‘Through monitoring males, we will be able to determine if they are nesting and producing young,’’ she said.
‘‘This is key to identifying if the kiwi released on the mountain are breeding and helping to rebuild the population.’’
The kiwi came from the Nga Manu Nature Reserve, Otorohanga Kiwi House and Te Puia in Rotorua.
The release was another step towards the trust’s goal of creating a viable kiwi population on Mt Taranaki.
To date, 80 of the flightless birds have been released into the area.
A collaboration between the trust, Taranaki Mounga and Kiwis for Kiwi meant a ‘Sky Ranger’ box monitoring device could be used to watch the kiwi and learn more.
The Sky Ranger box allows the birds to be monitored by plane and information such as location, habitat range, nesting data can all be collected without disturbing them.
Taranaki Mounga board member Hemi Sundgren applauded the trust’s efforts in helping to grow the kiwi population.
‘‘Taranaki Kiwi Trust seeks to rebuild and revitalise a vibrant kiwi population on the Mounga and it’s our role as Taranaki Mounga to support that,’’ he said.