Drivers are being asked to watch out for kiwi after another rare bird has been squashed on the road.
The long weekend had a sad beginning for Whakatane Kiwi Project staff and volunteers, after a kiwi was killed by a car a short distance from the Ohiwa Oyster Farm.
WhakataneKiwi Trust biodiversity field worker John Black and Department of Conservation community relations/biodiversity ranger Bridget Palmer arrived with plastic bags in hand to pick up another kiwi that had been killed.
Kiwi that venture away from the core protection area surrounding Ohope, Kohi Point and Mokorua Scenic Reserves are at risk. In the previous 12 months, six monitored kiwi have died outside the core area; two killed by dogs, two in vehicle incidents and two killed by stoats.
"We know that there are kiwi breeding outside the project areas, but we hope that our continued education, advocacy and community support will help keep these kiwi safe from risks like cats, dogs, possum traps and of course cars," Mrs Palmer said.
Margaret and Stuart Slade, founders of the Nukuhou Salt Marsh Care Group, are more than familiar with the sight of our precious native birds squashed on Wainui Rd between Ohope and State Highway 2. They were easily able to identify the kiwi while biking to Ohope early on Saturday morning.
Mr and Mrs Slade have recently picked up two dead Matuku/Australasian bittern and numerous other birds.
