In Brief
Duck brood study
A $300,000 Fish & Game study is hoped to shed light on nesting success of native birds, in particular duck broods.
The three year study is the first of its kind in New Zealand, and aims to pinpoint when birds nest and lay, how many ducklings hatch and how many survive and fledge.DU in NZ
Ducks Unlimited is New Zealand’s leading wetlands and waterfowl conservation group. We work to save our wetlands through protection, funding, technical aid and education so that the flora and fauna of our most endangered ecosystem are a legacy we can pass down to future generations. Our key focus is to increase the efficiency and number of New Zealand wetlands developed and support any relevant wildfowl recovery programmes. To aid in this worthwhile cause we harness community support and Government resources, plus utilise global links and findings from wetland global research programmes.
Second generation kiwi on way
MB23 - he’s one of the first generation North Island Brown kiwi born at Pukaha Mount Bruce after Operation Nest Egg delivered his parents there in May 2010. Now he’s sitting on his own nest!
Department of Conservation Ranger Yuri Forbes is tracking his activities with a chick timer transmitter which tells Yuri that he’s nesting. The eggs (there’s usually two) will be removed at around 70 days incubation and with any luck the reserve will have their second generation kiwi about 20 days later hatching in the nursery.