DOC's work with rowi
Thanks to funding from the BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust and use of innovative new technology, DOC staff have been able to make a real difference to the fate of this special species.
Keep up to date with the project by checking out the rowi team's blog on www.savethekiwi.org.nz
BNZ Operation Nest Egg
Franz Josef Waiau Area have been using the BNZ Operation Nest Egg to boost the population of endangered rowi.
BNZ Operation Nest Egg involves removing eggs from the risk of predation, hatching them in captivity, and placing the chicks in a predator-free environment until they are big enough to fend for themselves (between 1 to 1.2 kg). They are then returned to the wild.
To find out more about BNZ Operation Nest Egg view the video made by Aljazeera 'Saving New Zealand's rare kiwi' below.
Innovative technology
The DOC rowi team at Franz Josef keep a close eye on the birds at Ōkārito - a task made much easier thans to the latest monitoring technology. Developed by Wildtech NZ Ltd this ground breaking technology works on two levels.
1. Intelligent transmitters
A transmitter is fitted to a leg of each monitored bird. Signals from these transmitters give staff information about a birds behaviour as well as location. The rowi team can tell when an egg is laid and when this hatches, saving staff time and resources.
Pete the pilot plotting his route
2. 'Skyranger'
The DOC rowi team trialled a system developed by Wildtech NZ Ltd to capture the data from the transmitters by plane, flying in a grid over the sanctuary.
This has proved very effective as in 90 minutes the plane picked up and downloaded information from over 70 rowi in their burrows 4000 feet below. It would have taken a team of five kiwi rangers three weeks to gather the same information.
This technology could benefit the conservation of other species and is also being used to help another endangered kiwi - Haast tokeka.
Find out more by viewing the TV3 story 'Ear in the Air' helping to save rare South Island kiwi
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