Results of the first kiwi health check at Orokonui have been promising. They
have all put on a substantial amount of weight and one of the females is now
3.1 kg. Perhaps in the next six months we will begin to hear the occasional
night call. For several months there has been no response from the
transmitters of two of the kiwi and so it was a great result when the kiwi
search team including a kiwi tracker dog found one of the missing birds. Its
transmitter mysteriously had switched off. The other bird was not located
although the dog indicated a couple of promising leads.
The release of kaka pair Mr and Mrs Roto went well. They continue to spend
quite a bit of time around the aviary and Mr Roto has been entertaining
visitors – sometimes following people along the ground!
Kleopatra, the new aviary kaka still does not recognise nuts as real food
and has to be fed huhu grubs to keep up her protein intake. We'd love to
hear from anyone who might be able to supply huhu grubs.
Rats have once again appeared on the monitoring radar in very small numbers
(0.97% of trakka cards) and 42 mice have been caught for the Rhodamine dye
trial and will be sent away in due course.
The visitor centre and café are open every day 9.30-4.30. All day self-guided
walking, guided tours and annual passes are available. Keep up to date with
events on facebook and www.orokonui.org.nz.
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