Trust Update

2 kiwi are still breeding. They will be monitored to see if a chick results as both eggs are in deep burrows and cannot be safely collected as part of the Bank of New Zealand Operation Nest Egg™ programme.

At Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

3 eggs are in incubation. These eggs were removed by our team from the breeding pairs in the Paparoa ranges over the last few weeks.

Meanwhile 3 eggs hatched. 3 chicks were released in January at the Crèche du Bois Gentil,a 12 hectare predator free mainland crèche site near Blackball to raise the chicks temporarily until a target weight of 1400 grams is reached.

In the Crèche du Bois Gentil

Five of last seasons chicks were released back into the wild from the crèche in December and January.

Other activities

Annual transmitter and Harness Changes start next month.

The 11 sub-adults released into the wild to date as part of the BNZONE™ continue to be monitored.

Transmitters

The PWT is looking for information to find out if smaller and lighter transmitters than the ones we presently use, can be developed, exist and/or are on the market.

January 29th 2012 Open Day

This event organised by the PWT at the Crèche du Bois Gentil site was a great hit. Eighty interested people turned up and enjoyed seeing a kiwi chick being released back into the crèche. People witnessed a transmitter change and also got to see a kiwi dog at work locating two other chicks in the crèche.

Whio

Two more whio (blue duck) were released into the Moonlight Valley in January. This male and female add to the two females that were released last season. One of these females appears to have paired up with one of the resident male birds and has been spotted in the Roaring Meg Creek up the Croesus Track.