DOC's work with Haast tokoeka
Currently 87 Haast tokoeka are being monitored to establish chick and juvenile survival, increases in the adult population, nesting success, and population dynamics. These birds have been fitted with egg-timer transmitters which allows their activity to be monitored and determine if they are breeding.
When the adult birds change exhibit nesting behaviour staff can visit the nest and remove the eggs or catch a week old-chick.
Zoologist Corry-Ann Langford holds
Button at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Operation Nest Egg
Since the 2007/08 season all monitored Haast tokoeka have been part of the BNZ sponsored Operation Nest Egg programme. Eggs are transferred from the wild to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve to be artificially incubated and reared in captivity for release to a creche islands in Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. Kiwi chicks that are in extensive burrows are rescued, taken for health checks at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and transferred to a creche island.
Predator control
DOC is running an intensive predator trapping programme to ensure the survival of the current population. An extensive network of stoat traps have been established in the sanctuary which are checked on a regular basis.
Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust
What's been happening?
Twenty-five eggs have been lifted so far from the sanctuary for this breeding season. Of these, 17 have been sent to Willowbank Wildlife Refuge but eight have been infertile or have suffered from early embryonic death.
Five of the 17 eggs at Willowbank have hatched and 12 eggs are still being incubated. Unfortunately one chick died two days after hatching.
However one chick called 'Button' was lucky to get a staff assisted hatch because it was badly positioned in the egg and couldn't get its beak into the vital air cell at the other end of the egg needed to hatch. It is now getting special treatment because of a bent femur and receives daily physio.
Another chick has a bent lower bill and is receiving ongoing care with advice from the DOC national vet.
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