High hopes for 10 more kiwi released at Pataua North
Pataua North Landcare has bolstered its fledgling kiwi population with 10 new recruits.
The birds were welcomed by a crowd of more than 150 people, who had the chance to see them at close quarters before they were freed into the community’s 800ha pestcontrolled area.
Pataua North Landcare coordinator Dr John Craig, who had worked closely with iwi and the Department of Conservation to ensure the translocation went smoothly, said the birds had been released in places where resident kiwi had already established territories in the hope that they would pair up and begin breeding.
“Our aim is to re-establish a thriving kiwi population at Pataua North for generations to come,” he said.
The birds joined 13 Northland brown kiwi previously released by the landcare group in May and October last year. They had all begun life in the predator-free kiwi creche on Motuora Island, in the Hauraki Gulf.
Once they had reached a weight of more than a kilo they were ready to graduate, after undergoing a health check and being microchipped.
Rolf Fuchs from DoC’s Whangarei office led the kiwicatching crew on Motuora Island the night before the release.
“We worked from 6pm to 2am to find five males and five females. It was a long night, but we worked well as a team, and it was great to catch 10 healthy kiwi for Pataua North and help them boost their kiwi population further,” he said. Eventually 40 kiwi will be released into the area to establish a founding population with strong genetic diversity.
In addition to microchips, each male bird was also fitted with a small radio transmitter to help monitor the growing population. Since it is the sole job of Northland brown kiwi males to incubate any eggs for 60 to 70 nights, monitoring their activity yields information about the formation of pairs, nesting attempts and breeding success.
“With the local land owner’s good dog control, and ongoing predator control, supported by the Northland Regional Council and Kiwi Coast, these kiwi should live for 50 to 60 years,” Kiwi Coast co-ordinator Ngaire Tyson said.
“We hope they will find mates, breed, and have many chicks that will repopulate neighbouring community-led pest-controlled areas at Owhiwa, Taheke and Mt Tiger.”