<- Homepage: Kiwi: from lifted egg to free adult
Glossary for kiwi
adaptation
Physical and behavioural changes over time to fit new environments or conditions.
clutch
A group of eggs laid together.
chick timer transmitter
Transmits signals telling DOC field staff not only when an egg is laid but also when the chick has hatched.
Department of Conservation (DOC)
The state sector organization which deals with the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage.
endangered species
A group of animals that is declining in numbers and may become extinct soon.
endemic
Plants and animals that live only in New Zealand.
extinct
Having died out or ceased to exist.
habitat
Living place of plant or animal.
incubate
Keeping eggs warm by sitting on them.
juvenile
A plant or animal that has not yet reached maturity.
kahu-kiwi
Māori ceremonial cloak made with kiwi feathers.
mammal
Warm-blooded animals with hair that breathe air, give birth to live young and nourish their young with milk.
nocturnal
Animals that are active at night rather than during the day.
omnivore
Animal that eats both plants and animals.
ONE
Operation Nest Egg - programme which involves the transfer of kiwi eggs and chicks from where they live into a predator-free environment where they are incubated, hatched and reared. Once they reach 850 grams they are deemed big enough to fight off predators and are returned to their home.
plumage
A bird’s feathers.
predator
An animal that hunts and kills other animals for food.
prey
Verb - The act of hunting, catching, killing, and eating. Noun - The animal that is being hunted.
ratite
A flightless bird that has a flat breastbone without the ridge-shaped part keel to which the flight muscles are attached in a flying bird.
sanctuary
A place where wildlife is protected.
Sky Ranger
Part of DOC’s aerial tracking system for kiwi.
species
In classification, a species is a group of closely related organisms that can reproduce. A group of similar species forms a genus. In the scientific name of an organism, the second name is its species (for example, people are Homo sapiens - our species is sapiens).
territory
An area that an animal considers its own.
