Aircraft Monitoring Service for Threatened Kiwi Species Conservation

The Department of Conservation�s South Westland biodiversity team is tasked with the conservation management goal of securing and recovering the in-situ populations of two highly threatened species of kiwi, Haast tokoeka and rowi. Both species live in remote locations on the West Coast and inhabit remote and challenging terrain.

To allow for efficient species monitoring the Department utilises an automated system called SkyRanger and we seek an aircraft service provider to carry out this monitoring work. SkyRanger was developed by the Department and Wildtech New Zealand Ltd., to monitor wildlife wearing radio-transmitters using an aircraft.

The aircraft is fitted with equipment (including a computer, telemetry receivers and two whip antenna) that collects important monitoring data from the kiwi transmitters (such as breeding status, location and survival) as it flies a prescribed route above the birds. SkyRanger flights are scheduled regularly, with additional �freestyle� flights required to search for specific targets.

SkyRanger makes groundwork much more efficient for DOC field staff which, in turn has significantly enhanced the success of both species� programmes. The current monitored populations (and subsequent SkyRanger flight areas) of rowi and Haast tokoeka cover approximately 18,572ha near Okarito and 17,500ha near Haast, respectively.