Chick Timer™ software proves an accurate disturbance minimising tool for monitoring hatching success in little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii)

Measuring hatching success in birds is important for assessing population viability, but nests are often cryptic and may be abandoned if birds are disturbed during nesting. We evaluated the suitability of Wildtech New Zealand Ltd's Chick Timer™ radio telemetry software for monitoring hatching success in little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii). The software provided accurate reports of activity levels and times of nest emergence by adult birds. Eighty four per cent of incubation attempts and 70% of first hatching events were detected, with no false indications of incubation or hatching. Our results suggest that this technology will facilitate studies of hatching success in little spotted kiwi and other large birds with cryptic or inaccessible nests. A ground truthing study such as this one, however, is required before full implementation of the software in any species.