Actions we can take on our own properties:
Watch our slideshow: Living in a kiwizone? Here's some stuff we all need to know...
Living in a kiwi zone? Here's some stuff we all need to know...
In areas with no pest control, just 5% percent of hatched kiwi chicks make it to adulthood
Domestic dogs are a huge problem for kiwi
One dog left to roam can wipe out an entire local population
Dogs kill adult birds - the breeding population
They are part of why Northland kiwi have a life expectancy of just 13 years compared to nearly 50 in other parts of the country
Things we can do:
Control our dogs so that they never meet a kiwi
Have our dogs kiwi aversion trained regularly, remembering it's no guarantee
Domestic and feral cats are also a problem for kiwi survival.
Cats kill kiwi chicks
Cats kill other native bird species
Living in a kiwi zone, here's some things we can do:
Keep them in at night
Feed them well
Neuter or spay our cats
When our cats die, consider not replacing them
Vehicles kill kiwi
DoC have had 75 reported killed by cars on our peninsula (Redcliffes Rd / Rangitane Rd / Opito Bay Rd) since 1992. Who knows how many have been unreported
Driving at night, let's slow down and keep a close eye out for them on the road
In areas where they aren't controlled, stoats kill more than 50% of all kiwi chicks
They also take a big toll on other native birds, weta and lizards
Possums eat kiwi eggs and kill adult kiwi and chicks
They also prey on other native bird's eggs and chicks
They eat kiwi habitat and compete with kiwi for burrows
Rats and mice are food for the kiwi's predators and their presence helps to keep populations of cats, stoats and other mustelids high
Ship rats are climbers and eat native birds eggs and chicks
They eat insects and the fruit and seeds that feed birds and allow the forest to regenerate
Still with us? One last thing...
If your dog starts barking at a upturned dinghy on the beach lead him/her away quietly.
There's a good chance it's a kiwi resting up under there.
It happened at Opito Bay this week, not the first time...
Trap pests on your property
We can supply traps at no charge and train you how to use them:
- Rat traps in tunnels
- Possum traps
- Stoat traps
Contact us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or call 027 2431777.
If you let us know your address, from google maps, we can work out how many traps you'll need and arrange a time to deliver them and go through their operation.
Currently we have 207 properties/areas being trapped by approx 110 active trappers. Lots of folk are covering their neighbours place, if they're unable to do it themselves.
Have a look at the map on our site's homepage - this shows you the location of traps. If you know other people on the peninsula you can check here to see if there property is being trapped or not. If not, encourage them to get involved.
Feed the birds - plant native trees/plants on your property that birds like to eat
When we control pests we'll get more birds, but we have to make sure they have enough tucker to eat!
The Northland Regional Council put out this fantastic downloadable booklet on native trees and plants.
- What native trees are the best food for kereru / tui / silvereye
- Which trees possum most like to eat!
- Growth rates / final heights / what conditions each species prefers
Here's the cheat sheet on birds tree preferences:
Kukupa (NZ Pidgeon)
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Tui and Silvereye
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Bust weeds - search out and destroy invasive weeds on your property
It's really important to nail these guys and stop their spread, now is better than later!
Northland Regional Council have an excellent section on their website with advice on how to deal to them.
https://www.nrc.govt.nz/environment/weed-and-pest-control/pest-control-hub/
Possibly the most common ones on our peninsula are below with links to how to get rid of them:
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Cotoneaster Cotoneaster
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Agapanthus Agapanthus
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Ginger Ginger
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Jasmine Jasmine
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Moth Plant Moth Plant
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Pampas Grass Pampas Grass
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Taiwan Cherry Taiwan Cherry
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Tobacco Tobacco
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Wattle Wattle
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Wilding Pine Wilding Pine
https://kppc.kiwi/what-you-can-do.html#sigProId18d801fca7
Make your home, bird and invertebrate friendly, here's some cool ideas
The humble bird bath
Man, birds love to bathe, especially in the height of summer. It's important to change the water and clean them regularly, like twice a week. Good for the birds, but also great entertainment value :)
Set up a tui feeder
It'll attract nectar feeders like tui and silvereyes and they'll love you for it :)
You can buy one here:
https://creativewoodcraft.co.nz/product/wild-bird-nectar-feeder
Put a weta hotel in your garden/bush
As the DoC website says: "Female wētā lay 100-300 eggs so if you build a home they like and wētā live there, their numbers will grow" - good for kiwi, and other birds that eat them.
DoC's page with plans to build your own here
Buy one here
Set up a lizard shelter
This one is made of onduline roofing material but any roofing material will do the trick. Put spacers in between the sheets so the lizards can comfotably get in and out and once you've set it up don't disturb it.
If you have a dog, read our suggested guidelines for dogs living in kiwi zones.
Email us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the date of the next local avoidance training session.
Or call avoidance trainer Lesley Baigent - 027 313 4974
Read guidelines for dog owners living in a kiwi zone here
Keep our speed down at night, 4 kiwi died on our road last year
2017 road toll - 6
2018 road toll - 4
2019 YTD - 3
Report an unusual native bird sighting
We've added a section on the website that lets you report sightings of uncommon native birds. We then add the location to a google map displayed on the page.
In Opito, we've had a kaka hanging out on the neighbours deck and buzzing our place. One was also spotted by Terry and Ali, our Rangitane coordinators, while they were out walking in Akeake Reserve.
Occassionally folk see Miromiro (Tom Tits) - call them in!
Report a sighting here
Shooting rabbits on your property? Supply us with rabbit for our network of 200+ stoat traps
We have 200+ stoat traps out there, we don't need huge numbers but one or two a month would be very handy - bonus points if they come skinned and cut into cubes!
Five minute bird counts
Bird counts are an important part of measuring how effective we are being with pest control.
If you know your birds reasonably well this is a job you could do annually from your own home or other areas. Currently we do them in Akeake and Rangitane Reserves and it would be great to have a group of folk that are trained in this.
https://kppc.kiwi/reserves/akeake/172-akeake-bird-monitoring-september-2017.html
call Deb on 027 245 3080 or Dean 027 243 1777
If you hear kiwi on or near your property - consider doing annual kiwi listening
This involves sitting outside for two hours at a time for three nights in June/July (dates depend on the moon phase)
This monitoring is really important going forward to see if kiwi numbers are increasing. If you'd like to do listening on your property please get in touch, we have some great resources we can send you. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Last year, Fleur and Deb (who have bionic hearing) recorded an amazing 18.3 average calls per hour at the historical listening site at Rangitane Reserve. That's heaps. Compared to last years Northland wide figures of approx 100 listening stations, that would be the seventh highest count.
Our group has an agreement with DoC to do pest control, weeding and limited planting in Akeake and Rangitane Reserves - here's things you can do to help:
Weeding in Akeake Reserve
Akeake Reserve at the end of Opito Bay is a beautiful walk. It's relatively free of pest weeds but there are some that need attention. Join our weeding group do as little or as much as you like. If you'd like to be involved call Deb on 027 245 3080 or Dean 027 243 1777
Collect native tree seed/fruit
We will have an ongoing need for native tree seed/fruit sourced from old, well established trees. If you have any of the following on your property we'd love to hear from you
- Kowhai
- Miro
- Puriri
- Nikau
- Taraire
- Rewarewa
- Kohekohe
- Kahikatea
- Titoki
- Rimu
- Totara
Why do we want seed? To make into seed balls to distribute through the reserves in winter to increase the diversity of the trees/plants providing more food for the birds. Seed ball manufacturers and distributors also required!
call Deb on 027 245 3080 or Dean 027 243 1777
Job share a trap line
Interested in looking after a trap line? Sole charge or job share posiitions available!
Rangitane Reserve has three separate trap lines that need to be checked every two weeks. Each line takes about an hour to complete. Full training given. Reasonably easy terrain.
Akeake Reserve has a possum/stoat trap line that needs to be checked every two weeks. Takes about an hour and a half, full training given.
call Deb on 027 245 3080 or Dean 027 243 1777
Five minute bird counts
Bird counts are an important part of measuring how effective we are being with pest control.
If you know your birds reasonably well this is a job you could do annually from your own home or other areas. Currently we do them in Akeake and Rangitane Reserves and it would be great to have a group of folk that are trained in this.
https://kppc.kiwi/reserves/akeake/172-akeake-bird-monitoring-september-2017.html
call Deb on 027 245 3080 or Dean 027 243 1777
Kiwi listening in the reserves
This involves sitting outside for two hours at a time for three nights in June/July (dates depend on the moon phase)
This monitoring is really important going forward to see if kiwi numbers are increasing. If you'd like to get involved, getin touch, we have some great resources we can send you and full training given. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Deb on 027 245 3080 or Dean 027 243 1777
Last year, Fleur and Deb (who have bionic hearing) recorded an amazing 18.3 average calls per hour at the historical listening site at Rangitane Reserve. That's heaps. Compared to last years Northland wide figures of approx 100 listening stations, that would be the seventh highest count.