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Another milestone in work to restore the forests cloaking Tamahunga will be reached when 10 North Island brown kiwi are re-introduced on the mountain next month.
Over the next three years, 40 kiwi will be moved back into the protected forest and monitored to track their breeding and survival.
Tamahunga is a significant local land-mark, with its forests protecting the upper catchments of the Pakiri, Omaha, Matakana and Hoteo Rivers. The forests are a mixture of public and iwi reserves, and protected private land.
Tamahunga Trappers chair David Wilson says that after 12 years of predator control and an expanding network of support from neighbours and the community, many once rare birds are now commonplace and breeding well.
“Birds, bats, native frogs, insects and plants are thriving,” Wilson says.
“While the richness of species supports the overall health of the forest, some birds, like kiwi, aren’t able to return without a little help, as they have been absent from the forest and surrounding area for about 50 years.”
The nearest mainland kiwi population is in the Tawharanui Open Sanctuary.
The first group of kiwi will be caught on Motuora Island and moved to their new home in late March, with additional releases of birds in subsequent summers, providing monitoring results are positive.
The work to enable the safe transfer of kiwi is being undertaken by the Tamahunga Trappers, with the support of Ngāti Manuhiri, The Forest Bridge Trust, Department of Conservation and Save the Kiwi Foundation.
Birds will be released by a team of experienced kiwi handlers.
Although predator control of mustelids (weasels, stoats and ferrets) and feral cats reduces some of the main threats young kiwi face, dogs also pose a significant threat.
Wilson says that in protected forests, kiwi can live to more than 50 years, but in Northland forests, the average life expectancy is only 13 years, with 60% of known kiwi deaths caused by dogs.
“Because kiwi can’t fly, they don’t have strong muscles to protect their chest, which will crush easily in a dog’s mouth. While dogs are prohibited from entering the main forests of Tamahunga, neighbours owning dogs in the wider area are also being contacted about keeping any dogs on their property under control, well trained and getting dogs trained to avoid a kiwi if they do come across one.”
The translocation was scheduled for a year ago but was cancelled at the last minute after Ngati Manuhiri raised concerns about the safety of the birds.
A kiwi aversion training session for dogs will be held at the Warkworth Showgrounds on Saturday, March 4.
To find out more about the Tamahunga Trappers and their conservation work, or to sign your dog/s up for kiwi aversion training, visit www.tamahungatrappers.org.nz or contact tamahungatrappers@hotmail.co.nz
