Kaitake Ranges ready to welcome new arrivals of kiwi chicks

Conservationists working in Taranaki are closely monitoring two kiwi eggs being incubated by recently released male birds in the Kaitake Ranges.

The adult male kiwi were among 10 male and female birds released into the Kaitake Ranges in April and May.

Taranaki Kiwi Trust operations leader Sian Portier​ said staff have been monitoring transmitters attached to the birds to follow their movements and feeding patterns.

The transmitters now show two male birds incubating eggs, she said.

“It’s very exciting discovery to make only a few months after the birds had been released.

“It’s awesome they got straight into breeding and none of them have been killed by predators.”

Monitoring via transmitters also meant conservationists did not have to physically check until later on, Portier said.

“We don’t have to go close to the birds during incubation period and they are not disturbed.”

The male birds, Myagi​ and Spencer, have been incubating the eggs for 25 days and six days respectively.

Kiwi will normally incubate eggs between 70-80 days.

The birds were released after heavy trapping program over the past three-to-four years by Taranaki Mounga and Kaitake Ranges Conservation Trust (KRCT).

Without the trapping programme the birds, bred at Rotokare Scenic Trust, would not have been released, Portier said.

Read the full Taranaki Daily News article here.