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One of the Christian Bay kiwis.
What is believed to be the first kiwi caught on camera outside the Tawharanui open sanctuary has been photographed at Christian Bay.
The night-time shot was taken on a trail camera in a sheltered bush-clad valley more than 2km outside the predator-proof fence on August 31. Local residents on three neighbouring properties had heard male and female kiwi calling to each other in the area since June, so the confirmation of their presence in a photo was great news, according to Takatu LandCare Group’s community pest management coordinator, Ngaire Wallen.
“This is the first time one has been seen on camera as far as I know,” she said. “It’s certainly good news for people doing trapping in our area. Our traps are out there; in fact, I just took them three more.”
Ngaire said kiwi had also been heard outside the Tawharanui regional park over the hill from Christian Bay, on Waimaru Farm.
She added that with as few as 5 per cent of kiwi chicks surviving in unprotected areas, it was important to control pests such as stoats, keep dogs away from them and fence off bush areas to give the birds the best chance of survival.
