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MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Kiwi chicks will be huge milestone(copy).jpg "Kiwi with chick in burrow (P Graham)(copy)") Later this month, and for the first time in almost 50 years, kiwi chicks will be hatching in the Brynderwyns near Mangawhai.Back on April 14 Northland brown kiwi raised on Motuora Island were released at Marunui Conservation in 423 hectares of indigenous forest managed for conservation purposes. Since then the kiwi have been regularly monitored, and during July and August all were recaptured with Department of Conservation assistance, health checked and given good report cards. Catherine Hawley of Marunui said they had noted the birds were pairing up and establishing territories and were hopeful that some might be of breeding age. “Our wishes were realised when, while tracking the kiwi at the beginning of September, we picked up an incubation signal from the transmitter on Rangiora, a male. Then at the beginning of October we were delighted to receive a similar signal from a second bird, Tahuhu, on the opposite side of the valley. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for successful hatchings.” Males incubate Incubation, which is undertaken by the male, takes approximately 80 days in a prepared nesting burrow. It is likely that the fathers will be caring for two eggs each as the female usually lays a second egg three weeks after the first. The egg is huge, about 120mm long and 80mm in diameter, six times as big as normal for a bird the kiwi’s size, and it takes up 15-20 percent of the mother’s body weight. The male develops a bare patch on his belly that is used to keep the eggs beneath him warm. The two mothers, Ariki and Beverley, do not stay in the nest burrows but are not far away. All being well, their chicks will hatch in late November and mid-December, a process that can take up to three days. Safety a concern Catherine says everything possible will be done to keep them safe. “We have an intensive predator trapping regime in place throughout Marunui for stoats, ferrets, weasels, feral cats, rats and possums. We are receiving regular help with baiting from local volunteers who are keen to be actively involved in kiwi protection, and some neighbouring property owners are trapping for the same reason. It’s wonderful to have this co-operation and just what we were hoping would happen.” Marunui encourages people in the vicinity who are trapping possums to position traps at least 700mm above ground level so that if a kiwi wanders into their property they will not be harmed. The birth of the chicks will be a significant milestone for Northland’s brown kiwi. Te Uri O Hau and Patuharakeke Te Iwi, who named Tahuhu and supported the kiwi release, are delighted with the news. For Marunui it represents the culmination of years of hard work to restore and protect the habitat to a level that can provide a home for and sustain these iconic birds. For the Brynderwyns and the Mangawhai community, a little more ‘magic’ is in the making. Dogs a threat Dogs pose one of the greatest threats to kiwi and are not permitted to enter Marunui via any route. Nor should they be taken on to the Tanekaha Forest Track that leads from King Road into the DOC Reserve adjacent to Marunui. The co-operation of all dog owners, including pig hunters, is requested. ANY DOG CAN KILL A KIWI. PLEASE DON’T LET IT BE YOURS! ■ Find out more about kiwi on www.kiwisforkiwi.org GOOD SIGNS: Marunui kiwi, like those pictured above, will soon be nursing new chicks. –PHOTO/P Graham |
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