Kiwi Update

Story by Nicole Wilson - Tamahunga Trappers

I asked Kiwi Team Leader, Tim, for an update on the male kiwi that we have transmitters on. This is what he told me:"One bird hatched his chick and fledged about three weeks ago. Four more are incubating. One has just hatched his chick (9 days ago). The other three are at different stages of incubating, with one just started and two well underway."I also heard one of the team mention that they'd seen a pair of footprints in the mud - one large and one small set. Chances are it was a Dad and chick. So exciting to hear of these little signs that the kiwi are doing well. Now, you may recall that one of the Tamahunga kiwi - Maunga - decided to go for a bit of a wander over towards Kaipara Flats a while back. Early last month the telemetry team were having some issues with the signal from his transmitter. This meant that we needed to catch him for a transmitter change. As we were going to be catching him, the discussion in the Kiwi Team was around whether to leave him where he was or return him to Tamahunga.The decision was made to return Maunga to Tamahunga. This is what Tamahunga Chair and Accredited Kiwi Handler David Wilson said about the decision: 

"It's been valuable to monitor Maunga's movements in that area since his rediscovery, and we've learnt something of kiwi dispersal and behaviour.

That said, I'm pleased he's back at Tamahunga (pending any more movement on his part). That gives him the best chance of breeding again and contributing to the population and gene pool in our project area. I think that's important while the Tamahunga population is still at the early founder stage. Particularly as he's a Motuora bird - those birds have some genetic diversity not represented in the Tāwharanui ones."Maunga was in great condition when he was caught. He had found himself an interesting place for a burrow - under the old remains of a car (photo credit Trapper Megan).The kiwi are keeping the team on their toes.

More about the trappers here https://tamahungatrappers.org.nz/