Renowned kiwi researchers to talk in the Bay
Rogan Colbourne holding a juvenile Stewart Island brown kiwi, with kiwi dogs wearing muzzles, Olly (left) and Lucy (right), on Stewart Island. Photo: Supplied.
On Wednesday, two renowned Department of Conservation kiwi researchers, Hugh Robertson and Rogan Colbourne, will stop over in Takaka to give an illustrated talk on the fate of the great spotted kiwi in the Kahurangi wilderness.
This will be a rare opportunity to hear speakers of such calibre, said DOC community relations officer Greg Napp.
"It is a real privilege to have Hugh give a talk in Golden Bay. In the kiwi-researching world Hugh is as iconic as the bird he studies. He has an unrivalled depth of knowledge of his subject, spanning the range of kiwi from Stewart Island to Northland. He has been a regular visitor to Golden Bay, as the national study site for great spotted kiwi is located near Saxon Hut on the Heaphy Track. This summer, Hugh will be leading the fifth census of birds at the site, 20 years after the first census. I recommend that anyone who has an interest in our national bird should come along and listen."
The research teams venture out at night to catch the nocturnal birds with the help of specially trained muzzled dogs, and by imitating kiwi calls or using sound recordings to lure the birds. Catching a kiwi, however, is not an easy feat, says Hugh Robertson. With their armour-plated legs and huge claws, kiwi are known to run just slightly faster than the person trying to catch them. The trips are physically challenging, as the kiwi-snatchers get really hot from running after the birds, then freezing cold as they have to stand very still until the dog locates one. Then it's all go again, as they have to keep up with the dog that is trying to keep up with the bird, and sprinting is usually involved.
The kiwi, once caught, are banded and fitted with radio transmitters. By following the signal the following day, the team can track the kiwi back to their burrows. This makes it possible to locate their mates, find out if there are any new territory holders and to plot the bird's territory.
Figures collated in 2005 indicated that the population of great spotted kiwi near Saxon Hut had remained stable between 1987 and 2004, and that the number and locations of the occupied territories had changed little, implying that the incidence of its main predators-stoats, ferrets, cats and dogs-was low in this high-rainfall area.
"We are hoping to find most of the 10 territories still occupied, and are not expecting much change. We hope to find some juveniles; it seems to have been a good breeding year and stoat numbers appear to be down, " said Mr Robertson.
An upcoming mast year in the beech forest will produce masses of food for mice and rats, the main diet for stoats, and the kiwi will have a hard year or two ahead of them, predicts Mr Robertson.
The dedicated scientist, who holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Massey University and a doctorate from Oxford, has decades of experience. He is supported on this trip by Rogan Colbourne, a full-time kiwi researcher with DOC, and his Irish setter. Mr Colbourne is the national co-ordinator of Operation Nest Egg and also leads the Kiwi Call Scheme.
"Are Kiwi Doomed?" takes place at the Takaka Bowling Club, 17 Hiawatha Lane on Wednesday 18 February at 8pm. All are welcome.
Ina Holst
