Kia ora,
Welcome to the latest edition of Bird’s Eye News, where we bring you updates straight from the heart of Kiwi Park Queenstown. This month has been a whirlwind of change, achievements, and exciting developments. Here’s what’s been happening:
Conservation Show: A Spectacular Upgrade
Our talented show team—Anne, Suria, Jacob, Caitlin, and Matt—deserve a standing ovation for the incredible strides they’ve made in our conservation show. From enhanced training standards to enrichments and welfare improvements, the professionalism and quality of our shows have reached new heights. Visitors are loving the upgraded experience, and we couldn’t be prouder of the team’s hard work and passion.
Welcoming a New Ruru/Morepork
While we were saddened by the passing of our beloved long-term male morepork earlier this season, we’re excited to introduce a new male to the park. This rehab bird from Wingspan in Rotorua has a damaged eye that makes him unreleasable. Over the coming days, he’ll be introduced to our female, and we’re hopeful for a bright future for this duo.
Breeding Season Update
Despite nationwide challenges this breeding season, we’re celebrating small wins:
Blue Ducks (Whio): Eight birds have been prepared for pending release, and three fertile eggs are currently in incubation.
Pateke Ducklings: Seven adorable ducklings are thriving on the pond and will be ready to head out in the New Year.
Every success, big or small, is a step forward for conservation.
Kea Collaboration: A Promising Trial
We partnered with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research in a ground-breaking trial to target invasive pests without harming native birds. The results? A resounding success! This is a significant step forward in creating safer conservation methods for Aotearoa.
Partnership with Bee The Change
We’re buzzing with excitement to announce our partnership with Bee The Change! 🐝
Here’s what this collaboration means:
New Hive Caretakers: Bee The Change is now the proud kaitiaki (caretakers) of our park’s hives, including the stunning viewing hive located within our honey shop.
Educational Opportunities: Look out for educational signage coming soon, which will also be integrated into our Kiwi Park audio tour.
Local Honey: Our honey shop continues to stock Bee The Change’s delicious, local raw honey—a visitor favorite!
We’re thrilled to work with Bee The Change to protect and promote our precious pollinators while enhancing our visitor experience.
Kea Aviary Extension
Exciting progress is underway on the Kea aviary extension! With glass installation complete and framing close to finished, we’re eagerly anticipating its grand opening early next year. We’re sure the Kea are just as excited as we are!
That’s a wrap for this edition of Bird’s Eye News! From exciting changes to conservation wins, it’s been a big month at Kiwi Park Queenstown. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and will be back with more updates next year!
Ngā mihi,
The Kiwi Park Team
