Sarah Rowe from the Whenuakite Kiwi Care Group visited Room 4 this morning to share her expert knowledge on the wonderful work the group do to eradicate predators on the Coromandel Peninsula to increase Kiwi numbers in the area. She bought along a Brown Kiwi to show the students, as well as a stoat, ferret and weasel, who are their main predators. She explained to the students how the Kiwi Care Group set trapping lines to catch the predators and how their hard work has paid off with Kiwi numbers increasing every year. Sarah shared some interesting facts about the Kiwi saying that its egg is 20% of its body weight and explained how it uses its long bill to dig for food under the ground.
1 Comment
This morning Room 4 got to see firsthand one of the predators that are effecting the survival of our native Kiwis on the Coromandel Peninsula. Last week this Ferret was caught in a trap on the boundary of the Whenuakite Forest Park Kiwi Zone where they are not normally seen. This is disappointing for the Kiwi Care group who over the years have worked hard to eradicate predators in this area. Over the past ten years the group have trapped over 8000 rats, 1236 stoats, 260 feral cats, 130 weasels and 11 ferrets. As a result of their hard work Kiwi numbers have increased from 0 to 98. The timing of this is pertinent because the students in Room 4 are currently learning about native New Zealand birds and the impact that predators have on their survival. |
Room 4Making Learning Challenging and Fun!! Room Newsletter
Room 4 Student Insights
Parents and Caregivers, have a look at what your child is up to. We've just added these pages. They will be updated soon.
Archives
November 2013
Categories
All
|