East Taranaki Environment Trust (ETET) recently attempted to change the transmitters on seven kiwi within its Purangi-based kiwi project. The changing of transmitters is an important part of kiwi conservation. Transmitters provide critical information on birds' whereabouts, activities and trends in behaviour. They also provide important information for population modeling and determining the success of the trapping programme.
In late March, Jo Sim, a specialist kiwi field contractor from Levin, and her kiwi-trained dog "Rua" accompanied ETET Trustee and conservator Bob Schumacher and volunteer Joanna Grieg to Purangi to undertake the scheduled transmitter changes. Transmitters have a 14-15 month battery life so changing a transmitter must be done while it is still sending a signal. Over three days the team made several attempts to find and catch the kiwis. The warm weather meant most of the kiwi were resting in bivies (or light shelters) instead of day burrows. Thus, the team's attempts were thwarted by the noise created moving through the bush and upon hearing the team, the kiwis just scurried away out of reach.
The most interesting discovery was that kiwi bird Mr Nahe was incubating. This will be his third clutch for the season - a very rare occurrence for kiwis. At the time the team 'beeped' his transmitter, the reading showed he was already 17 days into incubation. This means the transmitter cannot be changed until he is finished.
The team agreed to try again during May. The cooler weather should mean the kiwis will be sleeping in day burrows rather than bivies which will make it easier for the team to catch them.
