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Koru the Kiwi Chick Updates

15 May 2012 - Koru Update

Koru was nabbed for a health check yesterday. He has moved quite a way from the initial release area and has gained heaps of weight. He is now 1360gm and his bill is now 82.5mm having grown almost 20mm since August.

He is still quite small and lean but is bright, alert and feisty and in an excellent burrow. We think he’s just a slow grower.

Click here to see his latest growth rates and movement. 

         

13 March 2012 - Koru Update

Since 14th December Koru has been tracked 7 times and pin pointed on one of those occasions. He has started to disperse away from his release site to the west, following the Huikumu Stream in mature pine habitat along the stream. He uses good natural cavity burrows.
 
Koru underwent a health check on 18th January. He had gained 100 grams, and we are now very happy with his weight and progress. He will be re-weighed around the end of March to check his strap isn‟t getting too tight. His bill is now 76.3mm, and has grown 12.5mm since August. He appears to be going through a good growth spurt at last, and starting to explore further afield. We are pleased with his progress and burrow choices.
 
Click here to see his latest picture and details.

Koru the Kiwi Chick Updates image

February 2012 - Koru Update

Koru the kiwi had a health check on 18 January. He had put on 100gm so that’s great news so now he’s off the worry list. He then started to move away from his release site. On 27 January the kiwi tracking team didn’t get a signal form him so decided to return back at a later date. The team got a signal on 6th February from Koru and he is now heading down the Huikumu stream and all is well with him.

Koru's next health check will be 18 May, we will then get a new tracking map which will be quite interesting by then.

October 2011 - Koru Update

Since 19th August Koru has been tracked 6 times and pin pointed on all of those occasions. He has remained in a large slash pile around the plateau just north of his release site, in an area of clear-fell. In the last 2 weeks he has moved to the North West beside a branch of the Huikumu Stream in a native riparian strip along the stream. He uses good natural cavity burrows.

Koru underwent his second health check on 20th Oct. He had gained 135grams, which is excellent, as he is now above release weight. His bill is now 68.8mm, and has grown 5mm since August. He appears still quite small and felt lean along his spine, but was very feisty, bright eyed and alert, and we are pleased with his progress and burrow choices.

He will get a new adult transmitter in November and hopefully will have gained even more weight.

20 August 2011 - Koru Update

2 August 2011 - Koru Update

Koru has moved about 250m downstream, still on the same side of the stream and has chosen another excellent burrow in dense native vegetation. We suspect he’s been crossing the stream now that it has subsided to normal water levels and he’s adjusting well to his new home.

There was a considerable snow fall in the forest earlier this week which brought a couple of large trees down around Koru’s area, this seems to have helped him because he’s using one of them to burrow under!

27 July 2011 - Update 1

Our first Koru update from the Whakamanu Wildlife Trust. Koru has only moved about 20m downstream from where we release him. He has chosen an excellent natural cavity burrow to live. Koru will be checked again this Friday to see how he is going.

26 July 2011 - Ruapehu Bulletin

15 July 2011 - Koru's release and photographs

Swimming New Zealand has sponsored a kiwi chick through the The Whakamanu Wildlife Trust. Caitlin Barraball from Isleworth School won our mascot competition late last year and had the opportunity to release Koru our kiwi chick into the wild. After a few date changes and organising, Koru was finally released into the Waimarino Forrest (outside Ohakune).

Trust chairman Kerry Oates said the release was very significant because they had set a goal to release 60 chicks in six years and this milestone was reached. This release was also the first time the Trust have released seven kiwi chicks at once.

Upon arriving at the forest location, we gathered with local Iwi, trustees and other supporters for a Karakia and an overview of the release of all seven kiwis. Caitlin then got to hold Koru which was amazing and provided us with plenty of photo opportunities.

We then took a short walk into the bush where we fitted a transmitter to Koru’s leg. The trust will monitor Koru’s progress and survival through radio telemetry tracking, to ensure that he establishes a pair-bonded territory of his own. This may take between two and four years. Koru was then placed back into his box for the short walk into forest. Koru was released into a natural cavity burrow in a large native reserve that is perfect for young kiwi to find their feet in the wild. The reserve is at the top of a major stream valley, and four other young kiwis were released there this time last year. Caitlin and Mike Bryne then released Koru into his burrow.

Koru is 5 months old and has reached a weight where he can defend himself against stoats. Stoats are the biggest threat to kiwi chicks, being responsible for killing 95% of all chicks born naturally in the wild. Koru was raised in captivity to a weight where he can avoid stoat predation; we have improved his chance of survival by around 75%.

The release was an absolutely amazing experience for both Caitlin and the SNZ staff who attended.

It was a privilege to see our national icon up close and personal. We look forward to recording Koru’s story.