Environment – A very Christmassy hihi “ho ho ho”

First, a follow up from my last column. The Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society (SOSSI) supported both kiwi pukupuku/little spotted kiwi, and hihi in the Forest and Bird annual “Bird of the Year” election. We are happy to report that hihi secured a very respectable ranking, making it into the top 10. The winner, crowned bird royal for a year, is the karearea/New Zealand falcon.

Hihi at our sanctuary started the breeding season with pleasingly high numbers, with around 40 or so females and a similar number of males. This is a lot more than last season and sparked a Real Eestate crisis: best practice is to have at least two nest boxes available for each female.  Sixty additional nest boxes were swiftly constructed, and disseminated in the bush, bringing the total to about 100.  Now the hihi can be as picky as they want to be, and there are extras for wētāpunga too, who sometimes make themselves at home in them.  

This “building boom” was amply rewarded: so far there have been 82 eggs laid in nest boxes, plus a smaller, unknown, number in natural nest cavities. Of these, 47 eggs have already hatched, providing monitoring volunteers with the merry sight of tiny bright-pink hihi chicks with (initially), just little tufts of fluffy down. Truly some of the best early Christmas presents.

Talking of Christmas, don’t forget that Shakespear Regional Park has lovely and very affordable camping spaces (booking required), for a marvellous and affordable family holiday close to home. An excellent way to start little ones off on the kiwi outdoors spirit, or simply have an easy few days away. You might even hear one of the sanctuary’s kiwis at night!

Whether camping or just visiting for the day, the digitally inclined can make the most of a wonderful free app, the Shakespear Explorer which can be downloaded from the Apple Store and Google Play for free.  It features two self-guided trails to download before your visit. The Kaitiaki trail takes you through the stunning Waterfall Gully bush walk, out onto farmland with breath-taking views.  The Tamariki trail is aimed at children ages 5+ and begins at the Old Woolshed information centre.

Lastly, something that you can do at home. Auckland Council’s Environmental Services has funded the SPCA to deliver free cat desexing vouchers to residents living around high-priority biodiversity sites. By avoiding the accidental creation of feral cats, responsible pet owners can be part of the solution that protects both our precious native birds and our precious pet cats from being attacked by feral ones.

People from Hibiscus & Bays, with 0794, 0930, 0931, or 0932 postcodes, are eligible for free vouchers, until mid-December. To participate, follow the link: https://snipnchip.spca.nz/ but note that for this particular action no charge applies even though one is mentioned on this website.

For more information on SOSSI (Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society Inc.) see www.sossi.org.nz or the Facebook page.