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Kiwis (birds)
Solitary and nocturnal birds, Kiwis are three species of small, forest-dwelling, flightless birds found in New Zealand. They are New Zealand's national symbol and are protected by law from being hunted. After a period of decline, these birds are now relatively abundant in some areas. Learn more about Kiwis in this category.
496 Questions
A kiwi is a fruit that is very nutritious. It is brown and furry on the outside. On the inside, it is green and soft, with tiny black seeds. Just peel the fuzzy outer layer and they are ready to eat.
Animals which hunt the kiwi include dogs, cats and stoats, all of which have been introduced to New Zealand.
What type of the new Zealand kiwi is the most endangered?
Possibly the Kakapo, a ground-dwelling nocturnal parrot.
OR perhaps the Tuatara, Sphenodon spp., dating from about 70 M years ago, a true descendant of the early Dinosaurs. They live to perhaps 150 years, and can be very slow moving. [A friend of mine visited an exhibit of Tuatara in UK, which he studied for 15 min or so. He marvelled at the remarkably realistic reproduction and life-like pose; - - but then the Tuatara blinked!]
OR perhaps the Kiwi, a flightless nocturnal bird that lives in deep burrows under the tree roots. Its nostrils are at the ed of its long beak!
All are endangered.
yes, they do
The birds nostils are located on the bill, top of the bill, and are placed in various distances from the head , depending on species.
Some birds however, like some found in the Galapagos Islands, have nasal cavities where others do, but they are sealed off where they would normally produce holes in the beak. This is so water doesn't enter when they dive for food.
What are all the species of kiwi bird?
Sources vary on this.
It is generally accepted that there are five species of kiwi.
- Brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli)
- Rowi, or Okarito Rowi (Apteryx rowi)
- Tokoeka (Apteryx australis)
- Great spotted kiwi or roroa (Apteryx haasti)
- Little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii)
The Brown kiwi is then divided into four distinct groups: the Northland, Coromandel, western and the eastern brown kiwi; while the Tokoeka is also divided into four distinct groups - the Haast tokoeka, the northern Fiordland tokoeka, the southern Fiordland tokoeka and the Stewart Island tokoeka.
However, the 'Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand' by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, published 2010, lists seven species:
- Great Spotted (A. haastii)
- Little spotted (A. owenii)
- North Island Brown (A. mantelli),
- Okarito Brown (A. rowi)
- South Island Brown (A. australis australis)
- Southern brown (A. australis)
- Stewart Island brown (A. australis lawryi)
Why is the Kiwi a Protected species?
The kiwi is now protected because, since the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand, this bird's very survival has been threatened. The Okarito Kiwi, or Rowi is now critically endangered and the brown kiwi is endangered.The other three species are vulnerable. Unless action is taken to protect the kiwi, this unique creature faces the very real threat of extinction.
Did ancient Egyptians eat the kiwi bird?
No. Kiwi have never been in Egypt, either ancient or modern.
No. Kiwi are small flightless birds which are native to New Zealand alone.
Kiwifruit are vine fruit which are native to China, while other species are native to India, Japan and even southeastern Siberia. They are grown as commercial crops in New Zealand, Chile, Italy, France and Greece, as well as the USA, along the coastal region of northern California extending up to the Southwest tip of British Columbia.
What is being done to protect kiwis?
There are many conservation plans in place to protect the New Zealand icon.
The Kiwi Recovery Programme was initiated by the New Zealand government in 1991, and has been financially supported by the Bank of New Zealand and the Forest and Bird Society.
Research has been undertaken to learn more about the kiwi's needs and breeding habits. It is believed that 95% of young chicks do not survive past their first six months, and so captive breeding programmes have been established to improve the number of chicks. "Operation Nest Egg" involves the hatching of kiwi eggs in protected places such as Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre, Auckland Zoo or Native Bird Recovery Centre in Whangarei, and releasing the chicks when they are much older. This has increased the survival rate of chicks to as much as 85%. Also, the use of DNA testing has enabled people involved in breeding programmes to identify unrelated kiwi that would breed stronger chicks by minimising in-breeding.
In addition, there are kiwi sanctuaries at Coromandel, Tongariro Forest, Okarito, Haast and Whangarei.
Trust and protection plans include:
- Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust
- Rainbow Springs
- Moehau Environment Group
- Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust
- Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust There are many conservation plans in place to protect the New Zealand icon.
Kiwi is considered to be an acidic fruit. It has a pH of around 3. Other acidic fruits are grapefruits and lemons.
Kiwi Ingenuity is the ability to come up with quick intelligent sometimes unconventional and uncommon solutions to a situation. Like Macgyver for example
What needs to be done to save kiwis?
Firstly, threats to the kiwi need to be addressed.
The biggest threat to the kiwi comes from dogs, feral cats and other imported pets including the stoat. Placing restrictions on imported pets, and restrictions on their unsupervised movement would go a long way towards helping preserve the kiwi.
Many kiwis are also killed every year by unregistered Pig-Hunting dogs. Tighter controls in this area could help, although registration of pig-hunting dogs does require Kiwi Aversion training.
Others are killed while crossing roads/highways, so increased signage (to raise awareness) and greater care by drivers in areas where there is signage could certainly save many kiwi lives.
Loss of habitat due to deforestation and destruction of large tracts of native bush is also endangering the kiwi. Not only does this threaten its food sources, but deforestation means the kiwi has fewer places to hide from its many predators. Reducing this ever-encroaching deforestation could help save the kiwi.
Official conservation programmes also have a place. There are currently many conservation plans in place to protect the New Zealand icon. The Kiwi Recovery Programme was initiated by the New Zealand government in 1991, and has been financially supported by the Bank of New Zealand and the Forest and Bird Society.
Research has been undertaken to learn more about the kiwi's needs and breeding habits. It is believed that 95% of young chicks do not survive past their first six months, and so captive breeding programmes have been established to improve the number of chicks. "Operation Nest Egg" involves the hatching of kiwi eggs in protected places such as Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre, Auckland Zoo or Native Bird Recovery Centre in Whangarei, and releasing the chicks when they are much older. This has increased the survival rate of chicks to as much as 85%. Also, the use of DNA testing has enabled people involved in breeding programmes to identify unrelated kiwi that would breed stronger chicks by minimising in-breeding.
In addition, there are kiwi sanctuaries at Coromandel, Tongariro Forest, Okarito, Haast and Whangarei.
Trust and protection plans include:
- Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust
- Rainbow Springs
- Moehau Environment Group
- Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust
- Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust
Kiwi are birds and, like all birds, lay eggs in order to reproduce.
Female kiwi lay their first egg when they are 3-5 years old. Breeding season begins in June, the New Zealand winter, and continues through to about March of the following year.
Kiwi dig a burrow for the egg, or find a pre-existing burrow, several months before it is laid. Three weeks after mating, the female lays an egg which is about 6 times the size of an egg from another bird of similar size. Just before the egg is laid, it makes up 15-20% of the kiwi's body weight, and takes up so much room that the female is unable to eat because there is no room in her stomach.
Both male and female kiwi incubate the egg, and another egg may already be developing in the female, to be laid in another three weeks' time. Male kiwis develop a bare patch on their abdomen, which is the "brood patch" - a section that is used to keep the egg warm. It takes 70-80 days for the eggs to incubate.
Hatching may take up to three days. The chick hatches with its eyes fully open. Initially, it feeds on a yolk sac which also prevents the baby chick from moving about the nest, but this is mostly absorbed after a couple of days. The chick then begins to feed on tiny pebbles and twigs which are stored in its gizzard to help with food digestion once it starts eating real food.
Does another bird look like the kiwi?
No. The kiwi is completely unique. The kiwi is a member of the group of flightless birds known as ratites, the other members of which are the ostrich, emu, rhea and cassowary. None of these birds look anything like the kiwi.
Do kiwi birds live in Australia?
No. Kiwi are endemic to New Zealand. There are no kiwi in Australia, and nor are there any in Australian zoos.
Importance of national symbols?
They represent their countries in many different,important ways and allow their country to stand out by being original and unique.
Are Kiwi birds found in New Zealand and Australia?
Yes. Kiwi are birds. The kiwi is a member of the group of flightless birds known as ratites. Ratites have wings but the bones in their chests do not have the capacity for flight muscles, which is what a bird also needs to fly.
Kiwi are nocturnal hunters. They mainly eat earthworms, fruit, seeds, fungi, insect larvae and other invertebrates, and have been known to eat eels, freshwater crayfish, small lizards and even frogs.
Kiwi find their food in a unique way. They are unusual birds with their nostrils located at the tip of their beak, and they have a very highly developed sense of smell, being able to smell out food beneath the surface of the ground.
Kiwi will dig their beaks into the ground to a depth that extends the entire length of the bill in order to find earthworms and other invertebrates. Young kiwi use their feet to shift the leaves and leaf litter from the forest floor in order to uncover insects, worms and insect larvae.
Where do people called kiwis live?
New Zealand. Although some Pakeha (non-Maori) New Zealanders might refer to themselves as 'kiwis', the use of nicknames based on nationality, culture or ethnicity is discouraged as it may be considered disrespectful, offensive or even racist.
What do kiwis do during the day?
Kiwi sleep during the day. They are nocturnal birds that forage for food at night.
