Crombie Lockwood Kiwi Burrow has welcomed over 100 kiwi chicks this spring and summer, leading the broker-sponsored facility to declare its second hatching season “a great success”.

The 100th chick hatched on Good Friday, weighing in at a healthy 344 grams, according to a statement from Crombie Lockwood.

The broker and the Kiwis for Kiwi charity are partners in establishing and running the Crombie Lockwood Kiwi Burrow, which aids in the conservation of New Zealand’s iconic bird.

“The 20/21 season has been huge, and we’re so happy to welcome more than 100 kiwi to the Burrow whānau,” said the facility’s husbandry manager Helen McCormick. “The anticipation of the 100th hatch had been building – will we reach it, won’t we reach it – so to make that significant milestone at Easter was an extra special touch.”

In its second hatching season, which kicked off in September 2020 with the arrival of Whetū, the facility took on a much larger number of eggs than the previous season. According to the facility, only 23 chicks were hatched in the first season, with the drought that affected large areas of North Island having a huge effect on the number of kiwi eggs gathered from the wild. However, the staff remained optimistic about the next hatching season, and it seems that they have been rewarded.

Since it began operating in October 2019, Crombie Lockwood Kiwi Burrow has hatched 125 chicks and released 114 birds into predator-free conservation sites.

According to McCormick, a purpose-built brooder space was installed for the second season, allowing the facility to care for young kiwi hatched in the wild, giving them better chances of survival.

“We’ve certainly learnt a lot this season; every hatch is different, and while there were some challenging times, it’s part of the job and adds to our knowledge,” she added. “We’re looking forward to winding down for winter and are excited about what we can achieve in season three.”