The Kiwi Birdlife Park is devoted to helping conserve New Zealand’s native fauna through captive breeding and advocacy, research, rehabilitation and by providing a sanctuary for free-roaming native wildlife.
Captive Breeding and Advocacy
The park cares for some extremely rare and endangered species. We assist several Department of Conservation recovery and captive management programs through national-level participation in advocacy, research and breeding. Specifically, we assist in Department of Conservation recovery efforts for brown kiwi, tuatara, brown teal, kea, blue duck, black stilt, Antipodes Island parakeet and Campbell Island teal, in addition to participation in other national and local programs for other threatened species.
Recent conservation highlights at the park include assisting re-introduction of a locally-extinct species, the brown teal, into the Arthur Valley, Milford Sound. Following a successful release in 2009, Kiwi Birdlife Park participated in the release of captive-born brown teal (several of which were bred at the park) into the Arthur Valley in March 2010. Other release work includes the transfer of brown kiwi 'Wairuakiwi' to the Rimutakas Forest Park in May 2010, accompanied by one of our dedicated keepers. 'Wairuakiwi' has been fitted with a radio-transmitter and his progress is being monitored by members of the Rimtukas Forest Trust. The successful breeding season for 2009 welcomed Auckland green gecko twins, brown teal ducklings, and several clutches of red-crowned parakeet into the park.
The Kiwi Birdlife Park is committed to kiwi conservation. Currently we hold brown kiwi for advocacy, for participation in a nationally-managed captive breeding program and to provide care prior to their sanctuary release. We have previously been involved with Bank of New Zealand Operation Nest Egg; a government run programme supported by the BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust to assist in kiwi recovery. The Kiwi Birdlife Park received eggs of the critically endangered Haast tokoeka from the Department of Conservation. Eggs were carefully incubated and several healthy chicks were hatched, with the park acting as a nursery for the chicks whilst they are at their most vulnerable stage. Once chicks reach a suitable size they are better able to protect themselves from predators and can be released into a predator-controlled crèche island or mainland sanctuary with a far greater chance of survival.
Research
Captive-held wildlife can provide useful information and samples that can help wild populations or further refine husbandry techniques for captive species. The Kiwi Birdlife Park participates in several research projects; recently we provided:
Rehabilitation
The Kiwi Birdlife Park also participates in rehabilitation of orphaned, sick or injured native wildlife. Orphaned wildlife are reared, sick wildlife are cared for and injured wildlife assisted in recovery prior to wild release. The 2009 season saw the successful wild release of several NZ pigeon, a silvereye, black shag and an Australasian harrier.
A Sanctuary
The park is a sanctuary for free-roaming wildlife. Native plants and spring-fed ponds in a predator-controlled environment has evolved into a haven for paradise shelducks, grey ducks, fantails, silvereyes, tomtits, bellbirds, NZ scaup and tui, which are free to come and go as they please.
|
|
|
Upcoming conservation
The 2010 breeding seasons has started with a flourish with successful hatching of NZ scaup ducklings in mid-February. We hope to breed Antipodes Island parakeet, brown kiwi, brown teal, Duvaucel’s gecko, NZ pigeon, NZ scaup, NZ shoveler, tuatara and Yellow-crowned parakeet in the 2010 season.
One of our brown kiwi, ‘Wairuakiwi’, was released into the Rimutaka Forest Park on the North Island in May 2010. His progress is being monitored by members of the Rimutakas Forest Trust. The release paved the way for his housemate, brown kiwi 'Tamanui', to welcome a potential breeding partner. The female brown kiwi 'Tawahi' arrived mid-May 2010 and is currently settling in well in a nocturnal house. The recent installation of a burrow-cam allows visitors intimate viewing of her underground burrow.
A new ‘Southern Islands’ enclosure is under construction to house our extremely rare Campbell Island Teal. The enclosure has been designed in such a way to showcase the rock-clambering agility of this unusual, flightless sub-Antarctic teal.
In current rehabilitation news, Kiwi Birdlife Park is caring for a juvenile tui, brought in by a dedicated local couple for hand-rearing. The tui is targeted for a soft-release into the wild.
Current research includes ongoing kea banding research and participation in a study on tuatara sex determination and embryology by providing any eggs for artificial incubation.
Conservation links
Kea Conservation Trust http://www.keaconservation.co.nz/
