The fence around the Opuahi crèche is secure again, thanks to super-quick action by Pestproof Fences Ltd. John and Nigel from the company got onto the job immediately, with repairs now complete. We can’t thank them enough. The next stage will be to undertake intensive trapping to remove any pests that may have got inside… [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]
Wow, a kiwi chick
Johno, our superhero kiwi in the Kaweka Forest Park, produced a kiwi chick and an egg (subsequently incubated at Westshore) in his first clutch of the 2022-23 season which is from June to March. Although the north island brown kiwi can lay eggs in any month. The chick, Johno Q, was released into the kiwi… [Read More]
Stoats galore?
Thursday 26 January 2023 Te Puia, (TP1- TP9) DOC250 traps, Hot Springs – Te Puia (370 – 411, DOC200, and CT13), Mangatainoka (W1-W15) Double set DOC200 traps It was a fine day at last, and so Grant headed out to do his monthly check of the trap lines. He rebaited an unmarked DOC200 trap near… [Read More]
Johno’s fading signal leads to a double surprise
Banner Photo: Johno S and JohnoT in their transportation carrier for the ride to the kiwi crèche. Fiona and Robyn received a message from Deb asking if they could do a nest raid on Johno. Data showed his transmitter battery was failing, he had been nesting for 88 days, and he hadn’t triggered a hatch…. [Read More]
MTT help with grass maintenance at the kiwi crèche
It was great to have Justin and his Jobs for Nature crew from Maungaharuru Tangitu Trust come to clear the lake track at the Opouahi kiwi crèche. There has been so much rain lately that the grass and other growth on the track was rampant and we needed it cleared for the summer visitors. The… [Read More]
Meeting the guardian of the fence
Wednesday 16 November, 2022 Lake Opouahi, Kiwi crèche Every month, a volunteer walks around the outside of the pest-free fence at the Opouahi Panpac crèche. They check for damage or other problems. Peter and Marilyn did this tour of duty last week on a fine and still day. They found a few minor issues in… [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]
First Light sponsors Dark Ops cameras
Banner Photo: Hoover caught on camera, feeding at night We have been very fortunate to be granted funds from First Light Community Foundation for trail cameras to monitor our Kaweka kiwi. On 31 August, Greg and I placed one camera near kiwi Hoover’s nest to monitor comings and goings from his burrow and any critters… [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]
