Kiwi Monitoring 2009

As I mentioned in last months news, an independent kiwi survey monitoring across the DOC estate and some private lands on the northern peninsula, is well under way. We are now into the second round of “listens”.
There are 14 of us involved and some 80 listening stations to be monitored over a three month period.
This survey is a repeat of the 2000 one which was carried out at the beginning of the huge DOC kiwi protection project.  Nearly 1756 stoat traps were put out at that time and that number increased when Moehau Environment Group received funding to establish its own kiwi protection area and help create a buffer for the Moehau Ecological Area.
The current surveys consists of a training so everyone uses the same monitoring methods, then getting out and doing it.—That is: hunkering down for two hours at each site and recording the direction, time, and estimation of distance of each call.
Males and females have distinctly different calls. The male is more strident and can easily be heard up to 2kms on a clear still night from a ridge top or knoll.
Technology has come up a few notches since the last surveys too, with the use of GPS’s and i-Pods!
Part of the monitor consists of “soliciting’ by playing the male and female kiwi calls, in the second hour, through a little tape deck and amplified speaker. Back in 2000 we carried around these big clunky tape decks with bags of “C” size batteries and a battery for the amplifier speaker. Now with the i-Pod it’s so lightweight you wouldn’t know it was there and it gets charged back at base on a computer.
You need fairly calm weather to have an effective listen which was a challenge back in July and now in August doesn’t look much better.
The work is hard with long tramps into some sites and dangerous with getting out in the dead of night in slippery and wet conditions. Safety is critical. Everyone carries survival gear and must check in every morning to our base after a night out.
So far everyone is fine and being very careful. This latest rain will just make it a bit more of a challenge and a darn sight slipperier!!!
Too early to make any bold claims or otherwise so watch this space and we will let you know when the surveys are finished.
Keep warm and dry!
Spring IS here!!
Wayne.  
07 866 6928;  021 233 5888.