Kiwi are doing it tough in summer heat
It isn’t only farmers and gardeners who are in need of rain in the Far North. The dry summer is also affecting kiwi in the Bay of Islands, hardening the ground to the point where they are having difficulty probing for food.
DoC biodiversity ranger Cinzia Vestena said birds were resorting to searching for food in daylight, making them even more vulnerable than usual.
Kiwi chicks had softer bills than adults, so dry conditions were especially hard on them.
“Our advice to the public is to observe the kiwi from a distance, and do not put meat out because they will not necessarily recognise it as food. Meat also attracts predators such as cats, stoats and dogs, which puts the birds in danger,” Ms Vestena said.
“Kiwi get most of their moisture from food, but people who live in high kiwi areas could try leaving a dish of water out, or water patches of ground to create damp areas for the kiwi to feed. Dogs should be tied up at all times.
“Last time we had a long dry spell kiwi were found in swimming pools, troughs made from baths and fish ponds, and some drowned,” she added.
“Kiwi can swim short distances, but cannot climb slippery smooth surfaces. An easy way to fix this is to add a plank or some bricks or rocks to low pools or troughs so they can clamber out again.”
She warned against trying to catch or move birds, even if they were out during the day. They were vulnerable to injury when picked up, and moving them could put them into another bird’s territory or break a pair bond.
“Only consider picking the kiwi up if it is extremely lethargic and doesn’t run away when approached, especially if it is a young bird,” she said. Any kiwi in distress should be reported to DoC on 0800 DOC HOT.