Te Anau student finds kiwi chick in excellent condition

Te Anau School student Kail Huber joined DOC Biodiversity Rangers Jane Tansell and Pete Kirkman last week to monitor the growth of a kiwi chick as part of the Bank of New Zealand’s Save the Kiwi’s work.

Kail won a class competition to join the DOC rangers on a trip to Centre Island on Lake Te Anau. The island is 2km from the mainland and is predator free. The kiwi chick was transferred to the island last month from Christchurch as part of the Bank of New Zealand Operation Nest Egg programme.

“The kiwi Kail held is a Haast Tokoeka, genetically different to the two Tokoeka Kiwi types found in Fiordland” said Ms Tansell. “As part of Operation Nest Egg, eggs or juveniles are removed from areas where kiwi are at risk, and reared in captivity until they reach approximately 400g. The chick is then transferred to protected habitat such as this one until it reaches one kilogram in weight”.

It has been found that kiwi over one kilogram can defend themselves from stoat predation. Without this management, up to 95% of kiwi chicks in the wild don’t make it to adulthood.

This kiwi has increased in weight by 200g since transferring it to Centre Island in April and needed a bigger harness for its transmitter. Kail assisted with this and measuring the bill length which can help to identify its sex.

When the chick reaches one kilogram it will be returned to Haast Tokoeka Sanctuary, to grow further and breed. This is expected to take three to four months.

“It has been a good season for Operation Nest Egg. Nationally it has ensured 135 young kiwi are well on their way to reaching the magic one-kilogram weight” Ms Tansell said. “This brings the total number of chicks successfully hatched since the programme began in 1994 to more than 700.”

Lake Te Anau’s islands are ideal for this work. They are a part of Fiordland National Park and can be enjoyed by all. It is important to remember that dogs are a real threat to kiwi and must not be taken onto the Islands.

“This is an accessible place where New Zealand’s best natural features can be enjoyed and sharing the success of raising kiwi here is a real buzz!” said Ms Tansell.

For further information please contact Dr Kerri-Anne Edge at the Department of Conservation, Tel; +64 3 249 7921;