Little spotted kiwi (apteryx owenii): recruitment and behaviour of juveniles on kapiti island, new zealand

Abstract

Little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii) were located in their shelter burrows on Kapiti Island, off the south-west coast of the lower North Island, with the help of a trained dog. In total, 106 captures were made of 87 kiwi, 48 of which were adults, 36 juveniles (less than three years old) and three thought to be juvenile but overlapping in size with adults. Juveniles occupied home ranges between territories established by adult pairs, but sometimes dispersed over large distances. One juvenile moved one kilometre in one night. The sex ratio of captured adults did not deviate significantly from a 1:1 ratio. Adult mortality appears to be low: nine out of 10 banded birds were found in a study area nine to ten years later. Recruitment seems to be adequate, because juveniles quickly occupy territories when the original residents are removed and there are very few territories with only single adults. I conclude that the population of little spotted kiwi on Kapiti Island is self-sustaining. This conclusion is contrasted with that given in an earlier study by J. N. Jolly, and the differences are discussed. © 1992 Taylor and Francis Group Ltd.