The Kiwi are native to New Zealand and live only here. As a result, they have become a symbol of
New Zealand.
The kiwi is the smallest bird in the Ratite family. Other
well-known Ratites include the rheas of South America, ostriches
of Africa, the emu and cassowaries of Australia and and the
extinct moa of New Zealand.
There are many reasons for the decline of the Kiwi which is
now fighting for its very survival. A combination of deforestation and
increased farming have all taken their toll on the population.
Introduced predators have also taken their toll with Kiwi chicks
being most at risk as they leave the nest weighing in at 200
grams. While adults are less vunerable, they stand little chance
against ferrets or dogs.
There are five identified distinct species of kiwi. Their
population and distribution is approximately as follows:
1,200 Little Spotted Kiwi on the Kapiti Island nature reserve.
A further 300 birds have been transferred to four smaller
islands and the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington.
17,000 Great Spotted Kiwi are found in the north-west and
Southern Alps of the South Island.
25,000 Brown Kiwi live in the North Island in four distinct
populations.
250 Rowi
live only at Okarito in the West Coast of the South
Island. The Rowi are classified as "Nationally Critical."
300 Haast Tokoeka (also "Nationally critical") live at
Haast and 25,000 Southern Tokoeka live in Fiordland and Stewart
Island. The Haast Tokoeka and Southern Tokoeka are both varieties
of the Tokoeka kiwi.
New populations of Kiwi have been introduced into predator
free zones. This is one of the areas that the Mount
Bruce Restoration Project excels. Eggs are artifically
incubated and chicks are reared for release. Eggs are taken
from the wild and hatched at the National Wildlife Centre.
The Centre has a pen which is enclosed by a wall large enough
to keep out any predators in the area. Once they are old enough
to fend for themselves, they are released into the wild. Kiwi
populations are being monitored by the DOC to find out how
many there are, where they are and how far they range.
The Kiwi:
cannot fly.
burrows in the ground - the Mount Bruce restoration project
has a "burrowcam."
is largely nocturnal
has one of the largest egg-to-body weight rations of any
bird. A mature egg weishs 15 to 20% of the female's body
weight
egg takes upto 80 days to hatch
female is bigger than the male.
is the only known bird to have external nostrils at the
end of it's bill.
has a highly developed sense of smell.
lives in pairs and mate for life
has loose, hair-like feathers and whiskers
eats mostly earthworms, spiders, forest invertebrates and
fallen fruits.
are extremely territorial and fight to protect their patch
The males of the Little Spotted Kiwi and the Brown Kiwi mostly
incubate the egg.
New Zealand - The Kiwi Today
The Kiwi are native to New Zealand and live only here. As a result, they have become a symbol of New Zealand.
The kiwi is the smallest bird in the Ratite family. Other well-known Ratites include the rheas of South America, ostriches of Africa, the emu and cassowaries of Australia and and the extinct moa of New Zealand.
There are many reasons for the decline of the Kiwi which is now fighting for its very survival. A combination of deforestation and increased farming have all taken their toll on the population. Introduced predators have also taken their toll with Kiwi chicks being most at risk as they leave the nest weighing in at 200 grams. While adults are less vunerable, they stand little chance against ferrets or dogs.
There are five identified distinct species of kiwi. Their population and distribution is approximately as follows:
New populations of Kiwi have been introduced into predator free zones. This is one of the areas that the Mount Bruce Restoration Project excels. Eggs are artifically incubated and chicks are reared for release. Eggs are taken from the wild and hatched at the National Wildlife Centre. The Centre has a pen which is enclosed by a wall large enough to keep out any predators in the area. Once they are old enough to fend for themselves, they are released into the wild. Kiwi populations are being monitored by the DOC to find out how many there are, where they are and how far they range.
The Kiwi:
The males of the Little Spotted Kiwi and the Brown Kiwi mostly incubate the egg.
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