The 2023/24 hatching season has officially started at the Crombie Lockwood Kiwi Burrow, with the arrival of four kiwi eggs. Two eggs came from a kiwi known as “Blew” in the Kaweka Ranges, and two are from a kiwi known as “Plummet” from Maungataniwha. When eggs first arrive at the Burrow, our kiwi keepers ‘candle’… [Read More]
Cyclone Gabrielle causes major damage to the kiwi crèche – and the loss of two chicks
Monday 6 March, 2023 DoC Rangers Kahori and Alan did a recce trip on 26 February to see if it was possible to get through to the crèche by road. Eight of us then went in on 2 March to round up the surviving chicks. It was a big day. I don’t think we’d make… [Read More]
New kids on the hill
Banner Photo: Grant Russell from Stantec holding kiwi chick ‘Stanley’ Meet Stanley, our first chick release for the season. Deb had the pleasure of taking Grant Russell (and son Brodie) from Stantec, together with Reece O’Leary and Angelo from PanPac out to release ‘Stanley’ and ‘Pip’ back into the Kawekas. Stantec has sponsored Stanley under… [Read More]
Kanuka was killed by a stoat
Banner Photo: Kiwi footprints seen by the body of Kanuka Back in September, we lost Kanuka, a healthy breeding kiwi. Fi and Chris found his body under a recent tree-fall. He had some suspicious-looking puncture marks to his head and neck. DoC ranger Kahori sent his remains to Massey School of Veterinary Science for an… [Read More]
We’re all go at last, and have our first chick in the crèche
Banner Photo: Ari’s egg with its patch (l), and Mr JC’s egg After the sad loss of kiwi Kanuka, we have some happier news. We had two teams out last Sunday (18 September) for the first nest raids of the season and brought out our first chick and two eggs. Anna and Deb raided Mr… [Read More]
Help from a lot of friends, to scare off invaders
Top picture: The safety briefing Thousands of starlings have been roosting within the crèche at Lake Opouahi, threatening to make it an unhealthy environment for young kiwi. The starlings’ droppings carry disease. A team of volunteers, mostly from the Tutira community and led by George Christison, took on the challenge of scaring the invaders off…. [Read More]
Tom’s lucky day – great escaper wins his freedom
Tom’s territory – with Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe in the far distance Tom had been awol for about seven months. We last heard him in mid-December 2021 and, despite an extensive search by Mike and Lyn, he remained silent until early July, when he suddenly reappeared! Deb did a double take to make sure she had… [Read More]
Nesting season’s under way
Top picture: David demonstrating his kiwi tracking skills July 20 – The 2022-23 season is under way with six nests on the go. Our first hatch is due around 11 September, with a raid about 21 September. Fortnightly monitoring of Makahu Saddle and Middle Hill would be good at this stage, moving to weekly as… [Read More]
