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Kiwi Recovery Plan

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Kiwi Recovery Plan 9.0 Recovery Strategy-Goal Aims and Objectives LONG-TERM GOAL populations of South Island brown and great To maintain and, where possible, spotted kiwi (both currently classified as enhance the current abundance, distribution `threatened') are sufficiently small and and genetic diversity of kiwis. genetically distinct to fall into this category. Preparatory action for these is thus proposed Comment: This goal reflects a in Objectives 6 and 9 (part). commitment to endeavour to prevent further declines of kiwi populations. It may not be Once the priority populations that require achievable in all areas, but provides a immediate work to prevent extinction have yardstick against which to measure future been identified and management initiated, success. the next step is to identify other `key' populations for each species. These The plan's approach towards this goal is populations would then receive particular to identify two aims, one of information management attention, beyond the general gathering or research and one of initiatives that can be recommended for all management. Within each aim are several populations (see Objective 7). The criteria specific objectives. used to determine these key populations AIMS needs further discussion. They are likely to include characteristics of the populations 1. To identify the current distribution, themselves, (e.g. size, rate of decline), and abundance and genetic diversity of kiwis, other factors such as the feasibility of the trends of their populations and the management (e.g. whether the land was threats they face (Objectives 1-4). Crown-owned or not), and the likelihood of 2. To take action to remove the short- such management benefiting other species. term risk of extinction of endangered The management directed at key kiwi taxa, prevent further declines and populations would be aimed at increasing begin recovery of other kiwi populations their productivity and reducing mortality. To (Objectives 5-9). do this requires more information on the Our ability to achieve these aims will be threats faced by individual kiwis. Research greatly enhanced if the programme has on this question (Objective 4) is the final public support and participation. There is objective under the first aim. therefore an additional objective (Objective OBJECTIVES 10) to encompass this. AIM l: Identify distribution, Further information on kiwi distributions, abundance and genetic diversity of kiwis, genetics and population trends (Objectives their population trends and threats. 1-3) is needed to ensure that management is focused first on priority populations. At 1. Identify Current Distribution and present one endangered taxon is identified, Abundance of Kiwis the little spotted kiwi, and further actions to Undertake surveys of known range safeguard it are given in Objectives 5 and 9 and areas where taxa are considered to (part). However work proposed in the first have recently become extinct. year may confirm current indications that 1 7 2. Identify Genetic Diversity of Kiwis 6. Identify and Evaluate Islands Available for Brown or Great Spotted Investigate the genetic variation Kiwis within kiwis across their geographic distribution using a combination of Preliminary work should be morphological and molecular techniques. undertaken to identify islands for these kiwis Identify potential management options in case they are required in the short-term based on these analyses. for endangered populations. 3. Determine Kiwi Population Trends 7. Manage Mainland Populations to Through Monitoring Reduce Their Rate of Decline Develop a technique to index the Endeavour to protect and enhance abundance of kiwis in an area. Identify key kiwi habitat and reduce impacts of dogs, populations for each taxa and monitor these pigs, possum trapping and poisoning, and at regular intervals to establish trends. road kills. 4. Determine Threats to Wild 8. Manage Recovery of Key Mainland Populations and Develop Management Populations Techniques for Population Maintenance Take action to reduce mortality and/ and Recovery or increase productivity of key mainland Undertake research to determine the populations. causes of mortality of kiwis in the wild. 9. Develop Techniques to Breed Kiwis Develop management techniques to tackle in Captivity those causes that we can influence directly. Undertake captive breeding research AIM 2: Take action to remove the risk to ensure we have the expertise to take birds of extinction of endangered taxa, prevent or eggs from any kiwi taxon and to rear and further declines and begin recovery of breed these. other kiwi populations. 10. Promote Public Interest and 5. Ensure Survival of Little Spotted Involvement in Kiwi Conservation Kiwi Keep the public informed of Establish little spotted kiwis on one conservation work relating to kiwi. Educate additional island capable of supporting a the public to reduce losses of kiwis during large, self-sustaining population and ensure hunting and trapping activities. Involve their survival on the islands they currently interested groups and individuals infield occupy. work where appropriate. 10.0 Work Plan The tasks needed to implement this plan agencies that are expected to be involved in are identified as `plan' under the ten each. This does not imply that they objectives. In brackets after each task are the necessarily will be involved nor have a names of those individuals, divisions of the responsibility for carrying them out. Department of Conservation, or other 1 8 OBJECTIVE 1: IDENTIFY CURRENT of which will ensure that we can identify the DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF key populations in each area for monitoring KIWI (see objective 3). An important element of all surveys will be the collating of existing The Department of Conservation data, e.g. Wildlife Service's Fauna Survey currently runs the `Kiwi Call Scheme' Unit's records. whose three aims are as follows: 1) to determine the national distribution of Plan: kiwis Northland Conservancy 2) to relate kiwi density to location and survey gaps in known distribution. habitat 3) to assign a `kiwi call index' at a known Auckland Conservancy time of year to each listening station to survey Hunua Range, Kawau and Ponui enable the dynamics of the population to Islands be determined with time. Waikato Conservancy It is intended to continue this scheme, survey Coromandel, Kawhia, Pirongia collecting records from all individuals that forests. can be encouraged to participate in it. Bay of Plenty Conservancy Publicity should be increased to maximise re-survey Mamaku Plateau. the productive involvement of the public in East Coast Conservancy this scheme. In addition it is proposed to survey Raukumara and Te Urewera send experienced personnel to survey identified gaps in the distributions of each Ranges. taxa, as identified below. Such surveys may Tongariro/Taupo Conservancy provide an opportunity to train interested survey gaps in known distribution. people in the use of call counts to identify Hawkes Bay Conservancy and monitor populations. Research is survey Ruahine and western Kaweka planned under Objective 5 to enable kiwi Ranges. call counts to be used as a reliable method of indexing kiwi abundance. Wanganui Conservancy survey gaps in known distribution in All Species Taranaki Plan: Outcome: Continue the Kiwi Call Scheme (Science & Research, Conservancies, Identification on a conservancy basis of General Public) kiwi distribution, with an indication of the density in different areas. This information Outcome: will form the basis for the design of a Regularly updated distribution maps monitoring programme under objective 3. of kiwis and measures of call rates in some areas. South Island Brown Kiwi North Island Brown Kiwi Explanation: Explanation: Determination of the distribution and abundance of brown kiwis at the apparently The distribution of the North Island isolated populations at Haast and Okarito is brown kiwi is fairly well known in some a high priority. If genetic work (objective 2) areas, e.g. Northland. The plan identifies determines these to be different from those priorities for survey within different in Fiordland they may need to be treated as conservancies of the Department to fill in endangered taxa. gaps in present knowledge, the completion 19 Plan: Island requires confirmation (see objective Survey population of Haast area and 5). (Nelson/Marlborough Conservancy). complete survey of Okarito (West Coast OBJECTIVE 2: IDENTIFY GENETIC Conservancy). Compare with previous DIVERSITY OF KIWI surveys to evaluate current trend. Outcome: If one of the accepted goals of management is to conserve genetic Identification of the approximate number diversity, it is essential to establish first the of kiwis in these areas and their distribution. extent of variation between and within Comparison with previous surveys will regional populations of kiwi. It is just as assess whether these populations are in essential to resolve the long-standing decline and determine the urgency for arguments over their taxonomy, so that the recovery action. birds can be grouped into appropriate Stewart Island Brown Kiwi management units. This kiwi is known to be widespread on Brown Kiwi Stewart Island and sites for monitoring can Explanation: be identified without the need for further survey. Preliminary findings from current studies by Dr. C. Daugherty of Victoria University, Great Spotted Kiwi Wellington, together with those from an Explanation: earlier investigation by D. Fountain (in Current knowledge indicates several Powlesland,
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