Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 8, 2010 14:45:21 GMT 12
Here's a little tongue in cheek article I wrote. Nothing special, just a play on the great work done by the Department of Conservation.
Preserving the Hawks
New Zealand has lead the world over the past few decades in saving, breeding and repopulating many species of rare birds. Well known examples have been the Chatham Island Black Robin, the Takehe, the Blue Teal, and the iconic Kiwi.
However lesser known is the work that has been done to preserve a species of Hawk. Unlike the birds mentioned above, these particular Hawks are not native but were introduced into New Zealand's environment.
The Hawks in question come under the the sub-species group of Curtiss Hawk, as they were discovered by ornithologist Curtiss Wright in the USA in 1934.
His original discovery was the stub nose Curtiss Hawk, the first of which was given the leg band number of P-36, and his research lead to the discovery by the 1940's that this particular Hawk variant could be found in many countries. Outside of the USA they were to be discovered in Great Britain, Finland, Norway, China, Iran, the Dutch East Indies, Peru, Portugal and Thailand, indicating they were a migratory species. They were seen widely across India and Burma in the 1940's too and these were thought to have migrated from Britain. There was also a colony of these Hawks in France in the 1930's but predatory birds from Germany forced them to move south to North Africa, where that colony was finally wiped out by wildcats, and the effect of hurricanes that hit their region, in 1942.
Whilst Curtiss was studying the new Hawk species he realised there were other strains. Some had sleeker, more streamlined noses.
These later-discovered variants were first introduced as a colony into New Zealand, which began to be established in April 1942. This came about as a result of an agreement between the New Zealand and American governments. It was seen then that the long nosed Hawk, which was known locally as the Kittyhawk, would be a very good deterrent against other pests that were then encroaching around the world.
Sanctuaries were set up for the Kittyhawk in remote parts of New Zealand, initially at Masterton, and then in Blenheim and Whenuapai, and later as the breed expanded they were introduced to Seagrove, Ohakea and Ardmore. The type was soon flourishing, and within a year many of the stronger Kittyhawks began their migration. They chose to go north over the vast Pacific, to islands such as New Caledonia, Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal and Tonga. Many returned whilst others made colonies in some of these sites, though these did not last long due to the harsh environment.
Kittyhawks would be seen flying low over most parts of New Zealand, often hunting alone but they were also known to flock in small groups. They could be seen diving from height, darting above treetops, swooping over the ocean, or circling high up in the stratosphere simply enjoying the clear skies.
New Zealanders became used to the commonly heard screech as they dived on their prey, and many would watch the skies and marvel and the aerial skill Kittyhawks. It was said that as hunters and predators they had achieved very highly against the threatening species from Japan that had been making their way down the Pacific chain towards New Zealand, and the Government boasted that their introduction of this species had been more successful than any other introduced into the New Zealand environment.
However by 1944 their prey was getting short, and the very thing that they lived and breathed for, devouring the Japanese predators, were so scarce that the numbers of Kittyhawks dropped dramatically. Many colonies of the fiery birds died out altogether. Those in the Pacific were the first to go, but by 1946 researchers noted that the only place where the Kittyhawk could be found in New Zealand was at Rukuhia. Here the breed became very near extinction, and this was sadly a trend worldwide. All the Curtiss Hawks were disappearing.
It would not be till the late 1960's and 1970's that pioneering conservationists decided that the few remaining Kittyhawks needed rescuing. By this time the found only around six still extant in the country. These were taken from Rukuhia to specialist centres where rehabilitation of the species was to be attempted.
After many years of work, technology saw to it that with the introduction of DNA strains from Kittyhawks brought in from overseas, plus the expertise of the Kittyhawk doctors who could work miracles, slowly but surely one by one there were breakthroughs. Most of the Kittyhawks that have been saved and had new life breathed into them have been sent to the United States and Australia under a mutual breeding programme to help restore their own populations. There remains a breeding pair in New Zealand and currently work is being done to ensure that not only Kittyhawks return to the air in New Zealand but their cousins the Hawk, Tomahawk and Warhawk have all been brought into the programme. Progress is being made in places like Ardmore, and Omaka and the hope is in future we may see many more of these birds return to their natural habitat, the air.
Preserving the Hawks
New Zealand has lead the world over the past few decades in saving, breeding and repopulating many species of rare birds. Well known examples have been the Chatham Island Black Robin, the Takehe, the Blue Teal, and the iconic Kiwi.
However lesser known is the work that has been done to preserve a species of Hawk. Unlike the birds mentioned above, these particular Hawks are not native but were introduced into New Zealand's environment.
The Hawks in question come under the the sub-species group of Curtiss Hawk, as they were discovered by ornithologist Curtiss Wright in the USA in 1934.
His original discovery was the stub nose Curtiss Hawk, the first of which was given the leg band number of P-36, and his research lead to the discovery by the 1940's that this particular Hawk variant could be found in many countries. Outside of the USA they were to be discovered in Great Britain, Finland, Norway, China, Iran, the Dutch East Indies, Peru, Portugal and Thailand, indicating they were a migratory species. They were seen widely across India and Burma in the 1940's too and these were thought to have migrated from Britain. There was also a colony of these Hawks in France in the 1930's but predatory birds from Germany forced them to move south to North Africa, where that colony was finally wiped out by wildcats, and the effect of hurricanes that hit their region, in 1942.
Whilst Curtiss was studying the new Hawk species he realised there were other strains. Some had sleeker, more streamlined noses.
These later-discovered variants were first introduced as a colony into New Zealand, which began to be established in April 1942. This came about as a result of an agreement between the New Zealand and American governments. It was seen then that the long nosed Hawk, which was known locally as the Kittyhawk, would be a very good deterrent against other pests that were then encroaching around the world.
Sanctuaries were set up for the Kittyhawk in remote parts of New Zealand, initially at Masterton, and then in Blenheim and Whenuapai, and later as the breed expanded they were introduced to Seagrove, Ohakea and Ardmore. The type was soon flourishing, and within a year many of the stronger Kittyhawks began their migration. They chose to go north over the vast Pacific, to islands such as New Caledonia, Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal and Tonga. Many returned whilst others made colonies in some of these sites, though these did not last long due to the harsh environment.
Kittyhawks would be seen flying low over most parts of New Zealand, often hunting alone but they were also known to flock in small groups. They could be seen diving from height, darting above treetops, swooping over the ocean, or circling high up in the stratosphere simply enjoying the clear skies.
New Zealanders became used to the commonly heard screech as they dived on their prey, and many would watch the skies and marvel and the aerial skill Kittyhawks. It was said that as hunters and predators they had achieved very highly against the threatening species from Japan that had been making their way down the Pacific chain towards New Zealand, and the Government boasted that their introduction of this species had been more successful than any other introduced into the New Zealand environment.
However by 1944 their prey was getting short, and the very thing that they lived and breathed for, devouring the Japanese predators, were so scarce that the numbers of Kittyhawks dropped dramatically. Many colonies of the fiery birds died out altogether. Those in the Pacific were the first to go, but by 1946 researchers noted that the only place where the Kittyhawk could be found in New Zealand was at Rukuhia. Here the breed became very near extinction, and this was sadly a trend worldwide. All the Curtiss Hawks were disappearing.
It would not be till the late 1960's and 1970's that pioneering conservationists decided that the few remaining Kittyhawks needed rescuing. By this time the found only around six still extant in the country. These were taken from Rukuhia to specialist centres where rehabilitation of the species was to be attempted.
After many years of work, technology saw to it that with the introduction of DNA strains from Kittyhawks brought in from overseas, plus the expertise of the Kittyhawk doctors who could work miracles, slowly but surely one by one there were breakthroughs. Most of the Kittyhawks that have been saved and had new life breathed into them have been sent to the United States and Australia under a mutual breeding programme to help restore their own populations. There remains a breeding pair in New Zealand and currently work is being done to ensure that not only Kittyhawks return to the air in New Zealand but their cousins the Hawk, Tomahawk and Warhawk have all been brought into the programme. Progress is being made in places like Ardmore, and Omaka and the hope is in future we may see many more of these birds return to their natural habitat, the air.
