Page 37 - 2008 NZ Subantarctic Islands

the whole country. Those pest-free islands loom larger and larger

in importance to the overall restoration project.

On our visit to Willowbank, we learned that 2008 was their most
successful breeding season ever. Over 20 Okarito (a species of

kiwi) chicks were released on Motuara (we never saw one there)
and 20 Haast (another species) were resettled on Centre Island
(we did not visit that site). Many other kiwis were successfully

hatched, reared, and relocated including North Island Browns and
Great Spotted. In addition a number of wild chicks were brought

to the center for care and later release. We were surprised to find
that this center is also involved in a Tuatara breeding program.

Two of their resident females laid eggs this season, one producing
13 eggs and the other 9 eggs. 17 of those eggs are currently being

incubated, the other 5 collapsed indicating they were infertile.

A fascinating kiwi factoid: The size of the kiwi egg is the largest in

proportionate to the body size of any birds in the world. The
beleaguered kiwi female must deliver an egg that makes up one-

quarter of her total body weight. This egg is truly enormous in
relation to the bird’s size. We could hardly help wondering why

Mother Nature was so cruel to mother Kiwi birds.

Chapter 9. Dunedin

Of course our visit to a very English city was bound to be balanced
by a visit to a very Scottish one: Christchurch to Dunedin

accomplished that feat. The statue to Bobby Burns at the very
center of town was a clear testimonial to the Scottish allegiance in

Dunedin. Instead of an impressive Anglican church, we now saw
the First Presbyterian Church take a dominant position over the

rest of the city. The Settler’s Museum cleared any skepticism

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