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“Little Spots” punch well above their weight and are feisty birds. However, they are small and have suffered terribly at the paws and jaws of stoats, cats and larger predators. Without the sanctuary of offshore islands, this species may have gone extinct. |
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Today, the success of sanctuaries mean Little Spots are the only kiwi species whose numbers are increasing overall.
Kapiti Island Life Raft
Today, most Little Spotted Kiwi live on Kapiti Island Nature Reserve, off the south-western coast of the North Island. This population dropped as low as 1000 birds in 1980 but, since predators were removed from the island, has risen to about 1350.
Transfers from Kapiti to other predator-free islands and mainland sanctuaries have helped the species’ total population climb steadily in recent years. Transfers have been:
• 12 birds to Red Mercury Island in 1998
• 38 birds to Hen Island in 1988/89
• 16 birds to Tiritiri Matangi Island in 1993 and 1995
• 40 birds to Karori Sanctuary, a “mainland island” in the heart of Wellington city, in 2000/01
A few Little Spotted Kiwi that survived on D'Urville Island in the 1980s were transferred to Long Island in the Queen Charlotte Sound.
Each of the five populations of Little Spotted Kiwi outside Kapiti Island is estimated to be more that 50 birds. For example, Red Mercury Island is thought to have grown to about 70 birds since 1998.
Preferred Habitat
Because no wild populations “Little Spots” are left on the mainland, we know little about where they prefer to live.
We do know that Little Spotted Kiwi and Tokoeka used to live in some of the same parts of New Zealand.
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On Kapiti Island they occupy all vegetation types – including flax, mixed scrub, seral and older forest, and rough grassland. |
Lower numbers in scrub and grassland areas suggest these are the places they like the least. |