Counters to learn kiwi calls

Kiwi listening stands are popping up at markets across the Bay of Islands this month and next, to tell aspiring kiwi listeners how to contribute to the next kiwi call count.

They’ll even learn the difference between male and female kiwi calls.

Kiwi call counts are scheduled for June and July, and local community conservation groups are on the lookout for potential listeners.

The annual kiwi call count helps estimate the kiwi population in any given area, providing baseline data to the Department of Conservation. Monitoring calls in the same place over several years helps build a picture of what is happening with bird numbers and distribution.

Market stalls set up by Bay Bush Action, the Russell, Mahinepua/Radar Hill, Puketotara and Hupara Landcare trusts are designed to give the public the chance to find out what a kiwi looks and sounds like.

They will also be invited to take a listening quiz, to see how well they can identify kiwi calls from other night-calling animals and birds.

Anyone who might be interested in becoming a trained kiwi listener will be welcome at any of three kiwi listening workshops at Russell, Waimate North and Totara North/Whangaroa over the last two weeks of May.

Helen Ough Dealy, DOC Community Ranger, Pewhairangi/Bay of Islands Office, said she was expecting a lot of people to be interested in the pop-up listening stalls, and keen to find out what male and female kiwi sound like. “You could be surprised. “That noise in the night might actually be a kiwi in your backyard,” she said.

Anyone who wants to get involved but won’t make it to a market stall is invited to phone DOC on (09) 407-0300.