The National Zoo held a naming contest for a Kiwi chick born on June 15. When the votes came in, the little bird was dubbed Areta (AH-reh-tah). The name is Māori — the language of New Zealand's native people — and means "of noble kind."

 

Areta is one of the first kiwis to be bred in captivity in the United States. Kiwis in captivity are very rare — only four zoos outside of New Zealand have been able to breed the birds.

 

Kiwis (Apteryx mantelli) are small, flightless birds unique to New Zealand.