Operation Nest Egg at Rainbow Springs

In 1995 Rainbow and Fairy Springs joined the Operation Nest Egg programme, which is designed to protect and grow the kiwi population. Kiwi eggs and chicks are removed from the wild by Department of Conservation staff and are hatched and/or raised in captivity until they are big enough to fend for themselves.

The first egg came to Rainbow Springs from the Tongariro Forest Kiwi Sanctuary in November 1995.

The egg hatched on 2nd January 1996 and was named Te Aukaha. The chick was released on 20th January 1997.

About 95 percent of newly hatched chicks do no survive in the wild due to attacks from predators, which is why the work carried out by Operation Nest Egg is crucial.

Carole Harvey with new kiwi chick. Source: Rotorua Daily Post, Friday 14 December 2001, p. 3. Photographer: Tracey Scott

Hatching an egg

Firstly it is important to remove the egg at the right time. If the egg is collected too soon it may not hatch. Eggs should be at least 25 days old. If the egg is less than 10 days old, it has only a 1 percent chance of hatching. If the egg is between 10 and 20 days old the chance of a successful hatching is 20 percent. If the the egg is 30 days old, success is 75 percent, and by 70 days the chance of hatching is 90 percent.

The issue though is that if the egg is left too late predators or environment factors, such as flooding may have got the egg, which is why timing is so important.

Once collected the eggs are artificially incubated and once hatched the chicks are hand-raised. The chick spend approximately 3 weeks indoors in a brooder box before being placed in an outdoor enclosure that resembles a forest environment. At this point the kiwi will begin to learn to look after themselves.

Kiwis were usually returned to the wild after 6 to 10 months when they weighed around 1.2 kg. Once a chick reaches 1 kg they are usually large enough to defend themselves against predators.

Predator - a stoat on display at Rotorua Library, September 2019

A success story

Last year the 1800th kiwi chick hatched at Rainbow Springs was born on October 6th. There have been many success stories over the years.

In 2004, Kiwi Encounter opened at Rainbow Springs, which was an extension of the Operation Nest Egg Programme. Today the National Kiwi Hatchery operates at Rainbow Springs, it is the largest kiwi hatching facility in New Zealand.

Click here to learn more about the National Kiwi Hatchery located at Rainbow Springs.

To learn more about the Operation Nest Egg programme visit the Kiwis for Kiwi website.


This post was written by Graeme. Thanks to National Kiwi Hatchery, Kiwis for kiwi (The Kiwi Trust), and the Rotorua Daily Post.

Conservation Week 14 - 22 September 2019

History of Conservation Week

Conservation Week was originally launched by the New Zealand Scout Association in 1969. This was done with the goal of promoting interest in the environment and encouraging the public to be able to learn practical ways in which they could participate.

Later the Nature Conservation Council took over the campaigns with educational resources provided  by Post Office Savings Bank, Caltex Oil New Zealand and the Todd Foundation.

In 1987 the Department of Conservation was formed and they then took over the promotion of Conservation Week, working with groups, businesses and councils. Many poster, badges and bookmarks were produced over these years. See here for more information about the history of Conservation Week 

Community Events in Rotorua 

Kiwi aversion training for dogs 

This will be held at the Blue Lake, Saturday 14 September, 9-4, $25

Thanks to Department of Conservation and photographer Erin Patterson

Small efforts worthwhile results

Steve is restoring the native bush reserve behind his property at Millar Road, Lake Okareka, Saturday 14 September, 9-11.30

Let's get planting

Department of Conservation Office, 99 Sala Street, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 September, 8-3.30

Thanks to Department of Conservation

Sulphur Point Lakeside Clean-Up

Sudima Hotel, Wednesday 18 September 1 - 3 pm

Thanks to Sudima Hotel

Te Arawa Catfish Killas and Bay of Plenty Regional Council

A talk about the Arawa project to rid the lakes of catfish will be held at the Library, Thursday 19 September, 6.30-7.15 pm

Thanks to Abby Tozer and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Nocturnal by nature

Looking and listening for nocturnal creatures at Okere Falls Scenic Reserve Trout Pool Road, Saturday 14 September, 6.30-8.30 pm

Thanks to Department of Conservation and photographer Catherine Noble

Photo Competition

This is open to all living or studying in the Bay of Plenty. There are 3 categories; Scenery, NZ creatures and critters, and People in the outdoors

Thanks to Department of Conservation

Further details and reservation for any of the above events may be found here

Events in the Library

Workshops

Displays in the Library

There will be displays in two areas of Te Akara Mauri, Rotorua Library. On the ground floor will be a display of endangered birds. and on the 2nd floor the display will consist of pests that threaten our native species of both birds and small animals.

This blog was written by Trish. With thanks to Department of Conservation,  Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Sudima Hotel.