Kiwi Coast June 2021 News and Updates

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Pete Graham (NRC kiwi handler) returns Harry to his pine forest spot after a transmitter change (Photo: Malcolm Pullman)

Hi <<First Name>>,

Kia kaha to those completing their Annual Kiwi Call Count on these chilly Mid-Winter evenings! With 241 people across Northland now using the Kiwi Coast Listening App, hopefully this monitoring has been made a bit easier.

As kiwi dad’s start preparing nesting burrows, spare a thought for female kiwi, many of whom will now be gravid with rather large eggs – read more about how amazing Northland female kiwi are below. You can also check out the amazing new website and all the info on the Pest Free Purerua Project, and find out about Harry “Houdini” the kiwi who has made his last escape…

Ngā mihi mahana – warmest regards
Your Kiwi Coast Coordinators, Ngaire, Andrew and Lesley

Harry “Houdini” the kiwi at his 2019 transmitter change, held by trainee kiwi handler, Dayna Davies (Photo: Malcolm Pullman)

Harry 'Houdini' the Kiwi Makes a Last Escape

After three years of Harry Hunts, Harry “Houdini” the kiwi has made a last escape! Harry has been one of four kiwi on the Tutukaka Coast monitored via a tiny radio transmitter strapped to his leg.

Released by Tutukaka Landcare in 2018, Harry became known as “Harry Houdini” due to his disappearing act around the time each six-monthly health check and transmitter change came due.

Read this article on our website...

Why Female Kiwi Are So Amazing

Once you have seen the size of a kiwi egg you will understand why female kiwi are so amazing, and why they are larger than males. An average Northland brown kiwi egg weighs a whopping 440gm! At around 125mm long and 78mm wide it is one of the largest eggs there is.

Not only that, but as adult Northland brown kiwi females only weigh in around 2kg or so, it is also one of the largest eggs relative to the size of the mother in the world.

While an ostrich may lay the world’s largest bird’s egg, it is actually the smallest in proportion to the mother – just 2% of her body weight. By comparison, the kiwi egg takes up about 20% of the mother’s body.

Read this article on our website...

Mataka Station, Purerua Peninsula. Photo: Dean Wright

Pest Free Puerua Website Goes Live

The Pest Free Purerua Project is well underway and the website is now live!

The website (https://pfp.kiwi/) showcases not only the stunning scenery of the Purerua Peninsula but also info on the huge effort underway to rid it of pests and how local landowners can get involved.

Six months work has been completed by the on-the-ground-team who are hard-out removing pests in the colder weather.

The Kiwi Coast led project will run for 4 more years with the Jobs for Nature Funding through Kiwis for Kiwi. Read more on our website...

Professional Trapper Todd Hamilton demonstrates a range of traps at the Prescott Rd Trappers Workshop, June 20th. Photo: Rolf Fuchs

Prescott Road Pest Control Workshop

Great community pest control workshop held recently with Prescott Rd Trappers! 30 keen forest-savers and pest-controllers learned how to get the most out of their traps, how to use a range of pest control tools effectively and about new products being released that should help us get better results. Huge thanks to Rolf Fuchs and Todd Hamilton for sharing their skills and knowledge, and Greg from Prescott Rd Trappers for organising the workshop.

If you would like a Local Trapping Workshop in your area, just let us know!

Upcoming Events

28/06/2021 - 17/07/2021
Kiwi Call Count Survey - 2nd Listening Window

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