Set in the dark of the night-world, this very special illustrated children’s
book describes the nocturnal habits of the mysterious kiwi, inspired by the
successful conservation project ‘Backyard Kiwi’.
Writer Annemarie Florian and designer and illustrator
Heather Hunt tell the story of Kiwi behaviour in Kiwi: the real story; their narrative
is laid on top of a dark but vibrant night-time backdrop in which the north
island brown kiwi comes alive.
Creating a uniquely illustrated, enormoulsy appealing book to be treasured by
children and adults alike ( I love it), the authors have layered poetry and non-fiction
narrative over illustrations to create a book that will bring pleasure to any
inquisitive young person wanting to understand more about this well-known but
little-seen bird. ‘This is a story about real kiwi in a real place, the story
of a dogged survivor, a bird who deserves our respect for its sheer resolve to
survive and live its own life in the face of overwhelming odds,’ says Annemarie
as she talks about bringing the feathered characters to life in Kiwi: the real
story.
Showing children this elusive flightless bird through the
facts and fun design in Kiwi: the real story reflects the motivations of the
Backyard Kiwi project, supported by Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum. From weed
control and trapping possums and stoats, right through to community awareness
on how to manage cats and dogs, avoiding the birds while driving at night and
being able to identify kiwi calls, the Backyard Kiwi scheme supports locals to
create an environment where kiwi can thrive, encouraging families to make
changes in their own backyard.
And while kiwi numbers are rapidly diminishing around the
country, there is a phenomenon up in Whangarei Heads as a result of this
combined initiative and the efforts of dedicated locals. Before this project
started, DOC’s kiwi programme in the Bream Head was unable to protect the kiwi
when they roamed onto private land. Since the project started in the Whangarei
Heads Peninsular, numbers have now risen to over 400 kiwi compared to the 80 in
2001, making this unique scheme a litmus test for what could be scaled-out
countrywide.
The illustrated ambassador for Whangarei Heads Landcare
Forum was originally created by Heather to strike a chord with people in the
area – the quirky design is used to personify the bird for road signs and billboards.
Together Heather and Annemarie bring kiwi to life in Kiwi: the real story with
the same illustrated characters. Heather’s illustrations were inspired by the local
birds in her area: she recounts hearing kiwi calls cutting through the night
air as the family relaxed in their outdoor spa – three or four would call from
the hill on the flower farm.
These feisty birds have
a life and spirit of their own and Kiwi: the real story will be the book to
inspire your children to love and protect kiwi long into their lifetimes,
ensuring that they will still be in the ‘backyards’ of our grandchildren in
years to come.
‘Kiwi are amazing creatures. A kiwi is a bird trying
to be a mammal: they’re the only bird with no tail; tiny useless wings;
marrow-filled bones; large ears; long whiskers; nostrils in the wrong place;
and the girls, unlike any other bird, have two functioning ovaries.’ Todd Hamilton, Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum Project
Manager
About the Author and illustrator
Annemarie Florian is
an independent bookseller at Storytime in Whangarei (www.storytime.net.nz). An
academic librarian in a previous life, she has convened the Russell Clark Award
and was a judge for the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2012. Other
publications include Time to Sleep and Books for Babies, also a
collaboration with Heather.
Heather Hunt (www.heatherhunt.co.nz)
is an illustrator, graphic designer, artist and photographer. She recently
worked with Backyard Kiwi, a local Whangarei initiative, to design a distinctive
and unique kiwi character, which has now been portrayed in a range of art
prints.
The Backyard Kiwi project is a community awareness conservation project, one of
many carried out by the Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum. Backyard Kiwi
celebrates the partnership between kiwi and people in the Whangarei Heads. For
more information go to www.backyardkiwi.org.nz
Todd
Hamilton (WHLF Project Manager) liaises with locals to carry out stoat and
feral cat control – a network of 300 predator traps has meant a huge increase
in kiwi chick survival.
Published by New Holland
Price: $29.99
Format: 250 x 250 mm; 32 pages, Hardback
Age range: 4 – adult
KIWI FACTS
Kiwis have existed in New Zealand for about 30 million years.
• Extensive Kiwi
populations once roamed over all of New Zealand but loss of habitat and the
spread of predators has seen this picture change dramatically.
• The decline has
been the most rapid in the last 30 years and today the number of Kiwi in
unmanaged areas is halving every 10 years. If this rate continues Kiwi will be
extinct on the mainland in our lifetime.
• Of the six
different varieties of kiwi in New Zealand five are considered endangered or
critically endangered.
• Without the
trapping of stoats by Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum, scientific research had
shown that
over 90% of kiwi chicks were killed by stoats.
• Kiwi are
flightless birds.
• Most are
nocturnal – they come out after the sun goes down to feed on underground
insects that come closer to the soil’s surface at night. You can hear kiwi at
night, especially during the autumn and early winter, in the Whangarei Heads.
• Kiwi habits and
physical characteristics are very much like those of a mammal. Its body
temperature is 38
degrees Celcius – most birds have a body temperature of 40
degrees. Kiwi have feathers that are more like
hair, and they have whiskers, and ears.
• Kiwi are the only
bird with external nostrils at the end of their beak – a lot like your nose.
• Dogs find the
smell of kiwi to be almost irresistible. From poodles to farm dogs – they love
the strong distinctive scent and find it easy to track – day and night.
• Kiwi are very
territorial, especially the males. Yet kiwi are mostly monogamous – they pair
for up to 50 years.
• Female kiwi are
bigger than male kiwi.
• Kiwi are
omnivores.
• Kiwi live in many
habitats – including your backyard. They like native forest, pine plantations,
pampas grass, paddocks – you never know where you might find one.
*Facts
from backyardkiwi.org.nz
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