Brynderwyns project sees increase in kiwi calls

 

A large increase in kiwi calls heard in the Brynderwyns during Northland’s 2016 call count monitoring survey is a good indicator of the success of Marunui Conservation’s kiwi project.

The survey has long been a key method used to assess population trends of Northland brown kiwi and this year took place over four nights between May 25 to June 12, or June 23 to July 12.

The process involves recording the number of calls heard from 6pm to 8pm, whether they are male or female, the time, direction and distance from the listening station, weather conditions and habitat type.

Marunui’s John Hawley said it was their third year of call monitoring and very satisfying to be able to record a 90 percent increase in the numbers heard since last year’s count.

“We have two listening stations and the calls increased from 21 to 34 at the eastern end of Marunui and from 10 to 25 at the western end.

“This gave us an impressive new total of 59 calls which is very rewarding given the first kiwi were reintroduced only three years ago.

“In many instances pairs were calling each other, with the male’s soaring high pitched call quickly followed by the female’s rather throaty, guttural sound.”

The Department of Conservation’s 2015 call monitoring report noted that in areas not managed for predators, low or decreasing call counts showed kiwi numbers were in sharp decline.

By contrast, in managed areas high or increased counts generally reflected the level of protection afforded by trapping.

John says Marunui’s intensive predator control – which targets ferrets, stoats, weasels, rats, feral cats and possums – is protecting kiwi in the Brynderwyns and increasing their survival rate.

"The breeding season has now begun and the first nest identified at Marunui is Oscar’s, the kiwi named by Mangawhai Beach Primary School pupils. His eggs are due to hatch in October. A second male, Tom, has also begun nesting. It’s thanks to our trapping volunteers and to those landowners outside our boundaries who participate in the Ring of Steel trapping project, that these kiwi and their chicks have a greater chance of survival and hopefully will contribute to many future call counts.”

n Marunui welcomes new volunteers. Contact Steve Tonnies at marunui.conservation@gmail.com

PROTECTED: Oscar the kiwi is thriving, and nesting, in the Brynderwyns environment.