What is it with Stewart I Kiwi and leather (or rubber)?

[Nick Allen]

Can anyone explain why Stewart Island Kiwi seem to have a habit of walking up to you and tapping the end of your boot? It's happened to me twice now. I visit the island infrequently, though met up with regular visitor Erik Forsyth there and he confirmed it happens too, so it's not just my feet.

Kiwi seem to have become quite easy to find around Halfmoon Bay, without really trying, though I'm sure going on an organised tour is still a more reliable way of seeing the species.

For those 'must use red light' proponents I managed to leave mine behind and just used diffuse white light, which the birds didn't seem to mind. I kept the birds I stumbled across (or did they come and find me, following the drifting scent of my boots?) in the dim edge of the beam though. They seemed to be more bothered by close-by sudden movement, and maybe the noise that goes with it.

Do more northerly Kiwi also come up to people and tap their boot or is it a local trait? My experience with Great Spotteds is that they don't exhibit the behaviour.

As for the advice not to get too close to Kiwi I had some trouble getting away from one of them that insisted on closely following me for about 50 metres or so, a bit like a dog.

[erikforsyth]

Great to meet you too Nick. I have only experienced this with birds on Stewart Island around the township and on organized tours with Beaks and Feathers on the airstrip where it happens regularly!

[Brendan T]

One of the airstrip birds is affectionately - and appropriately! - named "Footsniffer", though for the life of me I can't remember his little brother's name. If anyone knows it, I'd love to be reminded.

Same as Erik, I've only experienced this behaviour with Stewart Island kiwi.

I've had fairly bold North Island Browns at Tawharanui come within a metre or two, but I'd describe such behaviour as 'wary but curious' as opposed to the airstrip birds' complete nonchalance, even boldness. The few other Rakiura birds that I saw at Mamaku Point, Ulva Island, and Lee Bay behaved much the same way as the Northern Browns. (Compare this to Little Spotteds, which have always run off at the slightest movement, bar one bird that hesitated, waited for me to back off, then simply resumed its activities, but really showed no alarm or curiosity).

[Colin Miskelly]

There are boot-sniffing rowi on Mana Island.

Colin

[FraserGurney]

I've had this with a great spotted kiwi at Bullock Creek Road, although it was fairly brief and may have been random rather than targeted at my boots.

[David Riddell]

Same with me at Karamea Hut. It bumbled up the track and almost bumped into my legs, but don't think it was deliberate. I've also had a tokoeka sniffing round my feet at Traill Park, Oban.