Apteryx haastii

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 haastii

Species Authority:

Potts, 1872

Common Name/s:

English

–

Great Spotted Kiwi

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2e+3e+4e ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Robertson, H.

Justification:
This species is classified as Vulnerable because it may be decreasing by as much as 43% in three generations (45 years), based on probable annual declines (assuming half the population is stable in wet, upland areas) and predation by introduced species.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Apteryx haastii has always been confined to the South Island of New Zealand, but its range has contracted and fragmented significantly since European settlement, and several populations have disappeared. The three main populations are: north-western Nelson to Buller River, Paparoa Range, and Hurunui River to Arthur's Pass¹. In 1996, the population was estimated at 22,000 (± c.25%) birds⁴. It was assumed to be declining at a rate of 5.8% per year like its congener, Brown Kiwi A. australis³, but more recent monitoring indicates that wet, upland areas (which hold approximately half the population) may be stable or perhaps only declining slowly^5,6.
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 lives in forested mountains from sea-level to 1,500 m, but mainly in the subalpine zone of 700-1,100 m. It uses a wide variety of habitats including tussock grasslands, beech forests, podocarp/hardwood forests, scrub and pasture. It feeds primarily on invertebrates but fallen fruit and leaves are also taken¹. It lays one egg, usually in a burrow². Chicks hatch fully-feathered, and first leave the nest unaccompanied after about a week. It is long-lived, with generation time taken to be 15 years⁵.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It lives in forested mountains from sea-level to 1,500 m, but mainly in the subalpine zone of 700-1,100 m. It uses a wide variety of habitats including tussock grasslands, beech forests, podocarp/hardwood forests, scrub and pasture. It feeds primarily on invertebrates but fallen fruit and leaves are also taken¹. It lays one egg, usually in a burrow². Chicks hatch fully-feathered, and first leave the nest unaccompanied after about a week. It is long-lived, with generation time taken to be 15 years⁵.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Introduced predators are the greatest threat, in particular, mustelids Mustela spp., brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula, cats, dogs and pigs. As a result, chick survival is likely to be very low like its congener, Brown Kiwi A. mantelli, with at least 94% of chicks not surviving to maturity, except in very wet highland area, perhaps because here rodent prey density means predators are scarce^3,6.

Major Threat(s):

Introduced predators are the greatest threat, in particular, mustelids Mustela spp., brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula, cats, dogs and pigs. As a result, chick survival is likely to be very low like its congener, Brown Kiwi A. mantelli, with at least 94% of chicks not surviving to maturity, except in very wet highland area, perhaps because here rodent prey density means predators are scarce^3,6.

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. One small population in the eastern Southern Alps is managed intensively by controlling predators⁵. Leg-hold traps for predators are routinely raised above the ground in kiwi areas to prevent accidental trapping. A. haasti is the only kiwi species that has no secure populations on islands⁴. Conservation Actions Proposed Determine regional variation in population dynamics and management needs in the Southern Alps. Evaluate islands for possible translocations. Intensively manage at least one, preferably two, populations. Promote legislative and policy changes to protect populations. Educate and inform the public and encourage community involvement in Kiwi conservation⁴.

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. One small population in the eastern Southern Alps is managed intensively by controlling predators⁵. Leg-hold traps for predators are routinely raised above the ground in kiwi areas to prevent accidental trapping. A. haasti is the only kiwi species that has no secure populations on islands⁴.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Determine regional variation in population dynamics and management needs in the Southern Alps. Evaluate islands for possible translocations. Intensively manage at least one, preferably two, populations. Promote legislative and policy changes to protect populations. Educate and inform the public and encourage community involvement in Kiwi conservation⁴.

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