This little guy was pictured having come out of the bush in search of water , last week
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blonde_kiwi.jpg (80.2 KB, 0 downloads) 2 years old
Forest & Bird » Terrestrial
northland kiwi
(19 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Ah, a pie-bald kiwi. My sources tell me that this is probably a NI brown kiwi from Little Barrier Island - apparently those kiwi often have have white bits on them.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I wonder why? I'd have thought that'd make it more vulnerable to predators.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Sounds like things are pretty desperate for the birds up in northland with the drought...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10625337Posted 1 year ago # -
This is such a nice warm fuzzy story about helping out some of the kiwis getting into trouble in the recent Northland drought conditions
http://www.kcc.org.nz/news/%E2%80%98puddles%E2%80%99-kiwi-saved-auckland-kccPosted 1 year ago # -
I've been out listening for kiwis. I was hoping someone would be able to tell me: do kiwi have a time of the year when they are more vocal? And does anyone know of any good websites that I can listen to an audio file of a male/female kiwi?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm sure they'd be able to tell you at the Bird Recovery Centre in Whangarei (but remembering they're volunteers so getting in touch mightn't be easy - you could always try sending them an email via the link to KCC website given in my last posting - hey, that sounds like an army analogy...), and also on the KCC website in the Wildlife and Wild Places section, under "Birds", then "Kiwi" there's an audio recording of a call - but I'm not sure if it says whether its male or female.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks heaps Anne!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Just an aside. Robert at that Centre tells me that there are a few kiwis around up that way that have with definite white bits, and that it isn't a LBI-peculiarity apparently. Just ya good old genetic mutation in the general population or something I guess!? Can't see any evolutionary advantage in it myself, but then maybe having white bits makes them more attractive to potential mates or something only kiwis know about.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi Kukupa,
My understanding is that Kiwi call most frequently in the mating season and that's usually June/July so a lot of Kiwi surveys are done at that time.
They also call most when just emerging from their burrow each night, so from about an hour after sunset is a good time to listen for them. This is when they come out and call to locate where their mate is.
Otherwise you just have to sit up all night and hope they call before it gets too cold !
Good luck with your Kiwi listening.Kaipara
Posted 1 year ago # -
Re the photo of the partially albino kiwi, albinism is a recessive genetic mutation. All birds are capable of throwing albino offspring in this way. This happened on LIttle Barrier/Hauturu and because it's in the genetic pool there, albino kiwi tend to crop up sporadically in the breeding stock. A few years ago a fully albino kiwi chick was found - SO cute !
I've not seen a partial albino Kiwi like the one in the photo before, but it must be a variation on full albinism, similar to when Blackbirds show partial white spotting in their plumage from the same genetic mechanism. There's a variety of in between forms, such as pale colours (eg. pale brown Tui to albino sparrows and Morepork appearing), called leucistic colouring, in birds.
It's not clear yet, if the genetic mutation that gives rise to albino to leucistic colour variations is triggered by environmental conditions or genetic bottlenecks, or is just a random occurrence.
Posted 1 year ago # -
on the topic of Northland Kiwi the sad thing is that in the past 20-30 years the number of Kiwi there has probably halved and the Kiwi line has moved further and further north ... you used to see them in the forests west of Whangarei but not any more (except in sanctuaries and other specially protected areas).
Dogs and stoats are probably the biggest problem. Hunting dogs, farm dogs, pet dogs, allowed to roam unrestrained in native bush and kiwi zones ... and thousands upon thousands of stoats that you would think by now some govt funded scientist would have come up with a way of making them infertile by now ... where there's the political will theres a way !
NOT just Northland of course - all around the country same sad old story
Posted 1 year ago # -
The eyes don't look pink, so I don't think it's albino, maybe isibelline, another genetic condition that causes lightening.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Great to see that the story about the effects of the drought on Northland's kiwi chicks on TV tonight. It might help to make more people aware of the issue.
Really rewarding for our branch's KCC who paid for a kiwi chick, Puddles, to stay at the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre after he was found at Tounson Kauri Park
http://www.kcc.org.nz/news/puddles-path-recoveryPosted 1 year ago # -
See it here... http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/s2010-04-15-video-3459155
On tv3 It said to feed them cut up cow heart and corn.
When I was in the forest a few days ago there was heaps of Miro seed on the ground. They look good to eat!?Posted 1 year ago # -
And here's the one on TV3
http://www.3news.co.nz/Northland-drought-bad-news-for-kiwis/tabid/367/articleID/151281/Default.aspxPosted 1 year ago # -
Managed to get the story onto the F&B Facebook page. Our little blondie is fast becoming celebrity!
Forest and Bird Kiwi: Our blonde kiwi (with the George Clooney look) features in this Close Up story, and more about how the Northland drought is impacting kiwi on TV3, http://www.3news.co.nz/Northland-drought-bad-news-for-kiwis/tabid/367/articleID/151281/Default.aspx - Thanks for the email Anne. Phil
Close Up | Television New Zealand | Television | TV One, TV2, TVNZ 6, TVNZ 7
tvnz.co.nz
Starving kiwi are being forced to find food in broad daylight and in wide open spaces.
aPosted 1 year ago # -
kukupa - do rats eat miro seed, could help explain why the rat population is exploding at the moment. Mind you, they'll have dead chicks and things that the drought is killing first to feed on eh?
Posted 1 year ago # -
More links with white kiwi from Hauturu http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/cutestuff/5047359/White-kiwi-chick-hatched
Posted 8 months ago #
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