Northland Kiwi HuiInsights from The Forest Bridge Trust’s Team
Michelle, Charlie, and Virginia recently attended the Northland Kiwi Hui in Kaikohe, representing The Forest Bridge Trust. Centred around the theme of Resilience through Connection, the gathering offered valuable insights into how collaboration and shared knowledge can strengthen efforts to protect Kiwi in the face of diverse challenges.
One of the discussions focused on the potential impact of H5N1, or Bird Flu, on Kiwi populations. Thankfully, it seems the virus has largely affected birds living in densely packed colonies, so it is hoped that Kiwi, which live in more dispersed habitats, won’t be as impacted.
The effects of climate change were also a significant topic of conversation. In Northland, Kiwi populations are affected by severe drought, and a similar situation was seen on one of the Hauraki Gulf Islands. However, the way these droughts impacted the Kiwi was notably different between the two locations. This could be due to differences in habitat, but also possibly due to the unique genetics of Kiwi populations in each area.
Forestry practices were another key area of interest. It was encouraging to hear about efforts being made by the forestry sector to protect Kiwi during harvesting activities. Educating their harvesting teams on the signs of Kiwi in the area is just one of the steps they are taking to mitigate risks.
Kauri Dieback, a significant regional issue, was also on the agenda. The presenters shared important principles of containment to help limit the spread of this devastating disease. Interestingly, we learned that the Phytophthora family, responsible for Kauri Dieback, also caused the Irish Potato Famine in the 1800s, highlighting its destructive history.
Dean Baigent-Mercer from Forest & Bird delivered a thought-provoking talk on the importance of combining pest trapping with toxin control. This combination is essential for targeting the more elusive, trap-shy animals that can otherwise evade efforts to reduce their numbers.
Finally, Lesley Baigent presented on her trained Kiwi dog. These dogs are proving to be invaluable in Kiwi conservation, as they can used to efficiently survey areas and detect Kiwi, providing essential data for protection and management efforts.
The Northland Kiwi Hui was a great opportunity to learn from experts across the region and gather new ideas on how we can continue to support Kiwi conservation. The Forest Bridge Trust team returned with valuable knowledge and renewed enthusiasm to implement these learnings in our local work.