What Are We Doing to Help?
The Kiwi Birdlife Park is involved in coordinated conservation projects throughout New Zealand.
At home we are striving toward a sustainable business model and wildlife reserve.
Nationally we are participating in numerous programmes to protect our vulnerable native wildlife.
Here are just some of the ways in which we are involved.
Kiwi Recovery
We are proud to be part of the nationwide kiwi breed-for-release programme.
Kiwi are bred at the Park & cared for until they are 1kg in weight – big enough to fend off the predators that are killing them as hatchlings.
They are then released into safe predator-controlled areas. We have released kiwi into the Rimutaka Forest Park, Mt Bruce Sanctuary, and the Maungataniwha Sanctuary.
Wildlife Rescue
We look after sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife in our Rehabilitation Unit.
These animals tend to be found by members of the public and brought to us for treatment.
Our team of dedicated and experienced staff care for these animals until they are fit for wild release into the area in which they were found.
Brown Teal – Pateke breeding
With less than 2000 brown teal/pateke left in the wild, this is a very important programme.
The Pateke Recovery Programme was established in 1996 and we have been supporters of this programme from its inception.
We breed pateke for release with up to three clutches produced per year.
For the past few years our ducks have been released into the Arthur Valley, near Milford Sound.
Kiwi Birdlife Park Staff Volunteering
Staff from the Kiwi Birdlife Park regularly contribute as volunteers on Department of Conservation projects. Just some of the projects we have been involved in:
- Kakapo nest minding on Codfish Island
- Kaki catch and release at Twizel
- Longtailed Bat monitoring in Routeburn and Eglington Valleys
- Rowi Kiwi release on Motuara Island
Other Projects
Tuatara Incubation Studies
Our tuatara eggs are sent to Victoria University for use in a project which is looking at effects of global warming on sex ratios in tuatara populations.
Antips Insurance Population
We hold and breed Antipodes Island Parakeet as part of a mainland insurance population. We are also involved in proposals to travel to the Antipodes Islands and bring back some new breeding birds.
Buff Weka Breeding
Weka may seem common but the Buff Weka is seriously endangered. We are breeding our birds at the Park while we assess suitable release sites around Otago.
