Exploring the Nature Outdoors: Searching for Kiwi on A Remote Island

James, a wildlife content creator from United Kingdom, is also one of the newest members of the HIKMICRO family.  Explore while running in search of animals, including peculiar and amazing wildlife from the United Kingdom and beyond. James is invited to join us today to share additional insights regarding daily observation and the utilisation of thermal imaging cameras. 

I was on a mission to film one of the world's rarest and most elusive birds. The endemic Little Spotted Kiwi from New Zealand has a population of only 1500 left in existence thanks to introduced predators. Its nocturnal and timid ways make it extremely difficult for you to catch a glimpse of, with the majority of them only being spotted on camera traps or in captivity.

HIKMICRO'S EXPLORER ethos has established the brand as the global leader in digital day and night vision optics. The industry-leading monocular, binocular and scope, etc, can be applied to different scenarios. As pioneers in optical excellence, HIKMICRO's philosophy is to always be an EXPLORER in pursuit of superior technology. The brand vision is to take thermal and digital imagining technology from the niche to the masses. 

Experience Nature Through FALCON - My Secret Equipment

The chances of me being able to film this beautiful bird were slim, especially with the added factor of only having the darkness to work with. In any normal circumstance, I wouldn't fancy my chances at all and I probably wouldn't even try. However on this occasion I had a plan, a good location and a secret equipment at my disposal.

I set sail with an eager mind on my way over to a special conservation area called "Tiritiri Matangi" - It's a predator free island sanctuary for some of New Zealand's most impressive birds such as the once extinct Takahe, the elusive North Island Kokako and of course the rare Little Spotted Kiwi. Deciding to book myself a place overnight in the Islands bunkhouse, I figured I might be lucky enough to at least see one of these elusive birds, especially since I had packed myself a FALCON FQ25, my secret equipment. 

This brilliant device would allow me to search this wonderful Island in thermal vision during both day and prime Kiwi night time. I'd squared away my belongings, made my bed for the eventual triumphant return and set off out in search of some cool animals. My first glimpse of excitement started early on during my adventure, I hear a rising whistle-like call so made my way cautiously over to the location in which it was coming from and take out my thermal lens, I scanned the area using the white hot mode of the monocular and it was plain to see that whatever had teased my ears, had sadly scarpered and I was left to continue my search. 

Guided by gravel tracks and boardwalks and also over spectacular remote beaches in which Little Penguins and Tuatara inhabit, I made my way to the forest. The Pohutukawa and Kohekohe trees shield me from the wind and shelter the island's wildlife among them. The wildlife can't evade my thermal vision though and after hearing a scuffle above me, I examine the tree tops with anticipation. Excitingly, posing just meters from me, I see a stunning Red Crowned Parakeet (Kakariki) as clear as day through my thermal lens and then I can re-adjust to see it without the thermal which is exactly why this bit of kit is so useful. The white heat radiating from its body makes the easily missable, unmissable. I am thrilled to have spotted these birds in the darkened tree tops using this device and a bit further on, a New Zealand Green Pigeon (Kereru) can also be located, it's much bigger than the Parakeet.

Now Comes the Exciting Part

Feeling happy with my current findings and seeing how the thermal vision performs, I made my way back to the bunkhouse where I anticipated the search ahead of me as day time was turning into night time. I decided to test my thermal filming abilities during the first signs of darkness. Outside the bunkhouse was a family of Swamphen (Pukeko) so I used them as my practice targets. It's easy to find heat signatures in the dark and this was a piece of cake filming the Pukeko as they're quite tame and pose nicely. The entire filming process was so smooth and effortless that I'm now confident that if and when I do see a Kiwi, I'll be able to film it. 

Exploring through the dark, my only guide is a red light torch and the FALCON. With my mind playing countless tricks on me, I use the thermal camera to recognise if I'm seeing anything or not. I regularly scan the trees and ground around me. In White hot mode, this is just too easy now, pretty much everything is dark and it'll become totally obvious if something is out there. I'd stepped off the gravel tracks and decided to head through the less worn grass tracks, thinking this would give me more of a chance of spotting a Kiwi rummaging around for some food in the edges, this would also be when I'd find my first white hot movement. Down the track in front of me has some white hot movement, I stand still to check it out. As soon as I press the record button, the bird decides it's time to take flight, it runs away from me and then soars off into the night sky, letting out a cry. I'm able to film this bird and store the footage for later, perhaps someone can identify it for me. The only thing I'm sure of is that it isn't a Kiwi. 

Further on, this time I'm on the red light, as to not disturb wildlife too much. I'm trudging my way through having probably covered 2km at this point, I notice something running towards me. It's small so I'm not concerned, I hit the record button and look through the FALCON and sure enough, a Brown Teal (Pateke) is seemingly charging at me. It was quite a peculiar experience but one that I enjoyed very much.

As the night ticks on and the KM's rack up, my mission seems almost impossible and I'm reminded why so few people have encountered the Little Spotted Kiwi in the wild. Even with my secret equipment I'm struggling to catch a glimpse of the smallest of the Kiwi species. It's getting late now and I'm losing hope so I set my sites on the bunkhouse, still a few KM away. On my way back to the bunkhouse though, a final glimpse of hope shimmers through the FALCON's lens. A white hot dot, something you probably wouldn't second guess, within the bushes, raises the hair on my neck. I think I know what it is and what I've searched for. I have to be patient in this moment, I don't want to spook it. It's clear an animal is here and I can hear snuffling, a trademark sound of the Kiwi. I slowly adjust my viewpoint and wait for this animal to reveal itself. 

I can't see anything with the naked eye and red torch, this is a job purely for the thermal FALCON. I'm eager and await some movement, itching to dive in and see what it is but I know that'll ruin my chances. Slowly but surely, the animal starts to reveal itself and just as I suspected, the Little Spotted Kiwi is unveiled through the thermal FALCON. It's gorgeous round shape and iconic long beak sniffles along the ground right in front of me. It must be 5 meters away but I can't see it without the thermal. 

I can't believe there are only 1500 of these left on this earth and one of them is breathing the same air as me, in this moment. I'm absolutely over the moon. I get about 10-15 minutes with this Kiwi before it moves deeper in to the bush and out of sight. Amazing. 

Tiritiri Matangi Island had been full of rare beauty and birds and I reflected on this during my unusually flat ferry ride home. I would never have captured any of these precious memories if I hadn't taken the FALCON FQ25 with me. The secret equipment had increased my ability to locate wildlife massively, creating opportunities in both day light and night time to film them. I would never have filmed the Little Spotted Kiwi without it and with my mission and dream of filming this rare bird complete, one thing I know for sure is that my not so secret equipment will be by my side for all my future adventures. 

*Before purchasing any thermal or digital day & night vision device, please make sure you adhere to the local ledislation and only use it when it is allowed. Our ambassadors come from various countries and travel a lot, which allows them to test different devices. We do not encourage or support the illegal use of our devices in any events.