Kiwi in NZ

Did you know that Kiwi are nocturnal? This means that these shy animals come out to feast and play at night. Kiwi are an endangered species. They are also a native icon to New Zealand.

These creatures of the forest, have a small, brown, plump frame with tiny two inch wings, so small, that they can not lift their warm bodies off the ground. Kiwi have a very long, slender bill, which comes in handy when foraging for food in the moist, black soil. Their nostrils are at the end of their foot long bills. Kiwi have small, black, beady eyes, that look keen but are really short sighted. These nocturnal birds have very sharp feet and claws, which come in handy when fighting off predators.

You can find these fluffy, nightloving animals in bush, patiently hiding from the sun in small dens under ground or under the roots of a tree. Some conservation teams in New Zealand, take on baby Kiwi and their eggs, thinking, that if they can raise the Kiwi to a better life with more protection and food, maybe we can get the population up, as it is very low at the moment.

These rare birds of the native bush land, eat berries and leaves, worms or any other kind of insects that they can find with their power to smell things under ground.

Kiwi were first hunted by Maori, then the Europeans came, bringing with them, rats, cats, dogs, possums and stoats. All the Kiwi eaters. Kiwi have been hunted by these killing machines ever since. These birds are flightless, and look powerless but they won't give in easily. Kiwi are feisty creatures and will fight against predators. They may appear to be quite shy creatures, however they will defend themselves, fighting with their claws and bill, especially nesting mothers. Stoats eat Kiwi eggs, but can not usually get them, as they are too well guarded.

By Elsie