Apteryx australis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	STRUTHIONIFORMES	APTERYGIDAE

Scientific Name:

Apteryx australis

Species Authority:

Shaw, 1813

Common Name/s:

English

–

Southern Brown Kiwi

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2be+3be+4be ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Robertson, H., Weeber, B.

Justification:
Mainland populations of this species may be decreasing by as much as 97% in three generations (60 years), based on probable annual declines caused by introduced species. However, the large Stewart Island population may be stable, and thus the overall decline is more likely to be 20-50%, warranting Vulnerable status.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Apteryx australis is restricted to Fiordland and Stewart Island, with a tiny isolated population near Haast, New Zealand. In 1996, the total population was estimated at 27,000 (c.±25%) birds⁵. The species is common on Stewart Island (c.20,000 birds) and in localised areas in Fiordland (c.7,000 birds)^2,6. It is inferred that it could be declining on the mainland at a rate of 5.8% per year, like its congener A. mantelli, except perhaps in high-altitude habitats. It is stable on Stewart Island⁶.
Countries:	Native: New Zealand
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It occurs in a variety of habitats ranging from coastal sand dunes on Stewart Island to forest, subalpine scrub and tussock grasslands in Fiordland. It feeds primarily on invertebrates but fallen fruit and leaves are also taken. It lays just one egg, usually in a burrow^3,6. Chicks hatch fully-feathered, and first leave the nest unaccompanied after about a week. It is long-lived, with generation time taken to be 20 years⁶.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It occurs in a variety of habitats ranging from coastal sand dunes on Stewart Island to forest, subalpine scrub and tussock grasslands in Fiordland. It feeds primarily on invertebrates but fallen fruit and leaves are also taken. It lays just one egg, usually in a burrow^3,6. Chicks hatch fully-feathered, and first leave the nest unaccompanied after about a week. It is long-lived, with generation time taken to be 20 years⁶.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The impact of introduced predators is the greatest threat: brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula and stoat Mustela erminea eat eggs, M. erminea and cats eat chicks and juveniles up to c.1,200 g, and dogs, ferrets M. furo, and T. vulpecula kill juveniles and adults⁴. Predation pressure is least on Stewart Island where mustelids are absent, and dogs are prohibited from most of the island⁶. However, footprints of M. erminea were found on the island in early 2000, suggesting it may have colonised⁷.

Major Threat(s):

The impact of introduced predators is the greatest threat: brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula and stoat Mustela erminea eat eggs, M. erminea and cats eat chicks and juveniles up to c.1,200 g, and dogs, ferrets M. furo, and T. vulpecula kill juveniles and adults⁴. Predation pressure is least on Stewart Island where mustelids are absent, and dogs are prohibited from most of the island⁶. However, footprints of M. erminea were found on the island in early 2000, suggesting it may have colonised⁷.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Monitoring is intensive and nationally coordinated, and uses call-counts, specially-trained dogs searching for banded birds, and radio-tracking. Research is focused on the Haast and Stewart Island populations, and involves taxonomy, investigating the effects of predators and their management, ecology and the social structure of populations⁶. Conservation Actions Proposed Survey populations in Fiordland. Clarify taxonomy of Haast population. Evaluate islands for the possible translocation of Haast birds. Intensively manage the Haast population, and at least one other mainland population⁵. Determine the status of M. erminea on Stewart Island and, if present, eradicate if possible⁷. Promote legislative and policy changes to protect populations. Educate and inform the public and encourage community involvement in Kiwi conservation⁵.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Monitoring is intensive and nationally coordinated, and uses call-counts, specially-trained dogs searching for banded birds, and radio-tracking. Research is focused on the Haast and Stewart Island populations, and involves taxonomy, investigating the effects of predators and their management, ecology and the social structure of populations⁶.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey populations in Fiordland. Clarify taxonomy of Haast population. Evaluate islands for the possible translocation of Haast birds. Intensively manage the Haast population, and at least one other mainland population⁵. Determine the status of M. erminea on Stewart Island and, if present, eradicate if possible⁷. Promote legislative and policy changes to protect populations. Educate and inform the public and encourage community involvement in Kiwi conservation⁵.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Apteryx australis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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