Partnership with Department of Conservation (DoC)
The project takes place on DoC conservation estate. DoC provides technical advice on pest control, but will not take over the logistics of running the project.
The project follows the quidelines set by the national recovery programme for Kiwi. Because the best practise for protecting Kiwi is evolving, the tactics we will use for pest control are expected to also evolve over time. The prefered trap is now the Conibear 110, rather than the Fenn trap initially indicated in December 2001.
A continued survey for Kiwi in Otawa using tracker dogs was suggested by DoC in 2001 and this survey was provided for in the project's funding proposal (Jointly funded by Forest and Bird and Environment BOP). At this time of writing DoC does not now consider this tracker dog survey as worth pursuing. Again, this project does not seek to commit DoC to any course of action when DoC considers resources would be better spent in other areas of Kiwi protection.
Surveys of Kiwi
The recorded Kiwi population in the Otanewainuku forest has dropped from an estimated 17 birds (7 female and 10 male) through a three year listening survey of nocturnal Kiwi calls to 3 individuals heard in the latest survery in 2006.
In the area where predators are controlled it is intended to continue nocturnal listening surveys for kiwi. This is in preference to active monitoring, such as radio tagging, as listening surveys are least costly method of monitoring Kiwi populations. There is also some concern about risk to Kiwi from intrusive monitoring.
Listening surveys seem to give an accurate estimate numbers of mature Kiwi, but do have a downside of not picking up young juvinile kiwi (until they become sexually mature). For this reason there will be a three year time lag before listening surveys will reveal any increase in population through successful breeding.
It is worth noting that the surveys to date have used public volunteers for listening, and there are some doubts regarding the accuracy of the surveys and the number of Kiwi recorded (volunteers may have mistaken peacock calls for Kiwi calls). Even though our data is imperfect, we still consider it is worth proceeding with this project, because the local extinction of Kiwi will be guaranteed by inaction.
The funding proposal provided for a tracker dog survey and radio tagging to monitor the Kiwi populations, and possible DNA testing to establish the genetic significance of these local birds. It is likely this part of the project will not proceed at this time. Our focus is on predator control.
Predator control
Trap lines are set using Conibear 110 traps in tunnels to target stoats and ferrets. Approx 95% of young Kiwi are killed before they reach adulthood - mostly by stoats. The Otanewainuku forest has farmland on its margins and is subject to invasion by ferrets as well as stoats (ferrets are not usually present in dense native forest). For this reason ferrets as well as stoats are targeted.
A professional contractor set and monitored the initial trap lines. Trap locations are logged, and catch frequency and the pest species caught recorded for each individual trap set. Since December 2002 the monitoring of trap lines and collecting catch data has shifted over from the contractor to volunteers, who continue to do a superb job.
While pest control will help protect juvenile Kiwi, adult Kiwi are still at extreme risk from dogs. Local landowners and visitors to the forest will be educated about the danger to Kiwi from dogs, and encouraged to keep dogs out of the forest.
Formation of Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust
This trust was modeled on the nearby Kaharoa Kokako Trust. Te Puke Forest and Bird will maintain a long term involvement with the project and keep one member on the trust board.
Project Timetables (at time of funding proposal in December 2001)
1999 - 2001. Present Kiwi listening surveys completed.
Summer 2001/2002. Kiwi tracker dog survey of Otawa. (note, survey is under review) Ordering of 400 Conibear 110 traps (2 traps per trap set). Construction of 200 trap tunnels. Set up Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust.
Winter/spring 2002. Contractor lays out trap lines for approx 4 month trapping period and trap monitoring is transferred to volunteers during this time where possible.
Winter/spring 2003,( and ongoing years) trapping is repeated using volunteers. Contractor is used for adjustments or setting out new trap lines.
Winter 2005. New listening survey begins in Otanewainuku area to establish if the Kiwi population has increased. Kiwi take 3 years to mature and start calling at night so new birds will not be heard before 2005
2008 Kiwi Creche to raise young chicks from Rainbow Fairy Springs
Future: Carpark and Visitors Centre
For more information contact: Carole Long
Phone 07 542 0224 Email info@kiwitrust.org |
PO Box 9311 Tauranga NZ Ph 07 542 0224 Email info@kiwitrust.org
