Kids get close to Kiwi

 

Some very important visitors paid a special visit to Mangawhai Beach School last Tuesday and a number of other locals were there as well.

The whole school turned out to get close up and personal with the last batch of Kiwi to be moved from Motuora Island to the Marunui sanctuary on King Rd.

Motuora has been a very fruitful hunting ground, having a large Kiwi population and the seven captured overnight on this occasion are the last to be brought to their new Brynderwn home.

Cathy and John Hawley have been pioneers of the Kiwi re-homing scheme and were again on-hand in transporting this last batch of immigrants together with DoC staff.

The two birds on show for the children were a male and a female with the school previously having the task of naming them.

So, Fern and Oscar had their first introduction to Mangawhai at the school that gave them their names which will remain with them, registered against their transmitters that will allow DoC staff to trace their lifetime movements and record their history while at Marunui.

The visit was not a long one as, at midday, the weather was very warm and Oscar, especially, was snapping his beak, a sign of stress under the bright sunlight.

While they can be delicate if over-handled, so far the new arrivals have settled in extremely well and have bred much better than was originally expected.

A similar number were released this time last year. All have adapted well with the original 14 now growing to 37 in number plus young ones proving they are enjoying the environment that the Brynderwyns affords.

The children were well clued up on the Kiwi, their habits, their special features and their biggest threats to survival and it is hoped that some of this younger generation will become the future custodians of Kiwi in Mangawhai.

<<ends>>

NEW HOME: Marunui handlers hope to inspire future Kiwi-carers through visits like this one to Mangawhai Beach School.

GOOD HANDS: Trained handler Celia Walker keeps Kiwi comfortable around the big crowd.

By Rob Pooley