As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Wednesday 14 March 2018

Rare little spotted kiwi released at Shakespear Open Sanctuary



20 little spotted kiwi (kiwi pukupuku) from Kapiti Island were released at Shakespear Open Sanctuary on March 3.

Twenty new little spotted kiwi (kiwi pukupuku) were released at Shakespear Open Sanctuary on March 4. 

They have come from Kapiti Island to join the other cohort of little spotted kiwi which were brought to the sanctuary last year.

The new kiwi will offer some genetic mixing to give the population its best chance of survival, Auckland Council Senior Ranger Open Sanctuaries Matt Maitland said.

Just 45 minutes north of the CBD around 550,000 people visit Shakespear Regional Park each year. 

Those visiting the park will be able to hear the kiwi calling, as they are very territorial, Maitland said.

Sossi member Ginnie Quartel with Minnie Clark from Ngati Toa (Kapiti Island), where the birds all came from, and senior ranger Matt Maitland.

All of the birds have been fitted with radio transmitters and, for the next couple of months, will be tracked and monitored every day by volunteers.

In April 2017, 10 birds each from Kapiti Island and Tiritiri Matangi Island were released. These have settled in well, and indications are that they've started breeding. 

Until recently these kiwi were only able to be trans-located to five other islands. However, with island sanctuaries now at capacity, this new mainland population is critical to their survival, DOC translocation project manager Angus Hulme-Moir said at the time of the release.


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