Footprints to FeathersCommunity Conservation Talk at Omaha Golf Club
On Sunday 14 October, ecologist Dr Virginia Moreno drew a crowd of 54 people to the Omaha Golf Club for an engaging conservation talk filled with insights, inspiration, and community connection. The audience was a wonderful mix of local people from Omaha, familiar Forest Bridge Trust supporters, and representatives from groups such as Piroa Conservation and TOSSI. Even a few curious golfers lingered at the back, listening in as Virginia spoke about the wildlife that makes our landscapes so special.
Virginia’s presentation combined captivating visuals and audio recordings to highlight the thriving populations of kiwi and other threatened birdlife in Rodney, including Australasian Bittern (Matuku-hūrepo), Pāteke (brown teal), and New Zealand Dotterels. She showed how these species are re-establishing themselves both around the local golf course and across the wider Tāwharanui buffer zone.
Her talk highlighted the 2025 kiwi monitoring results, which revealed:
- 15 audio recorders deployed across the buffer zone, spanning 500 metres to 7.2 kilometres beyond the predator-proof fence.
- 87% of sites recorded kiwi calls, up from 57% in 2024.
- 13 out of 15 sites detected kiwi activity — a strong indicator of range expansion.
- Duet calls (male and female together) were heard at 8 sites (53%), up from 5 last year, suggesting more active breeding pairs.
- Kiwi were recorded at Sites 6, 10, and 12 for the first time in three years.
This success is largely thanks to extensive predator control and habitat restoration led by a community of landowners and volunteers, with support from The Forest Bridge Trust, Takatu Landcare, Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary Society (TOSSI), and Auckland Council. These collective efforts are reducing predator numbers and creating safe spaces for native birds to thrive.
However, challenges remain. Domestic and feral cats continue to pose a serious threat to local Dotterels, and pet owners are encouraged to keep cats indoors at night. Kiwi also face risks from dogs, which are naturally attracted to their scent. To help protect kiwi, The Forest Bridge Trust — with funding from the Rodney Local Board — is offering free Kiwi Aversion Training for dogs on Saturday 11 October at Morris and James Pottery in Matakana. Free 10-minute bookings can be made directly at Kiwi Aversion Training.
It was a heartening reminder of what we can achieve together when people, communities, and nature are connected.
A big Thanks you to Rodney Locak Board for supporting this event.