Takahē Recovery Programme celebrating success No Images? Click here May 2017 In this issue:
Takahē in the newsBest breeding season for endangered takahēFor a third year running the Recovery Programme saw another record breeding season!! DOC, with its partners Ngāi Tahu and Fulton Hogan, celebrate the addition of 66 new chicks to the population. Read more..... Takahē: back from the brinkThe once presumed extinct takahē are on the road to recovery, moving down two places along the threat classification system from nationally critical to nationally vulnerable. However, there is a lot more work to be done...... Fulton Hogan takahē family day outAfter joining as DOC's national partner to support the Takahē Recovery Programme in July 2016, families from the Southern South Island Fulton Hogan teams came along to the Orokonui Ecosanctuary to celebrate the successful takahē breeding season. It was a great day out where the families learnt more about takahē and the Recovery Programme. Read more..... Technical talkUnderstanding takahē transfersBefore and after every breeding season a number of takahē are transferred around the country - but why do takahē need to be moved between sites?! Currently only 1/3 of the takahē population is located in the wild in the Murchison Mountains, the rest are living on secure island and mainland sanctuaries around the country. These sanctuaries provide safe homes for takahē - but unfortunately they are limited by size and available suitable habitat and therefore cannot maintain self-sustaining "wild" (i.e. not intensely managed) takahē populations. Because of this, the sites outside of the Murchison Mountains are managed as one large meta-population (several small populations of the same species). And it's the Takahē Rangers' jobs to ensure that there is sufficient genetic mixing and that each of the breeding pairs are the best possible match. All of this takes carefully planning, forward thinking and a lot of takahē transfers. Read more.... Takahē spotlightNoam the Takahē visits the vets
Noam recently spent time away getting treatment for an eye injury at Massey's veterinary unit - Wildbase. It is unknown what caused the puncture to his eye, perhaps a fight injury as takahē are very territorial. Noam received two weeks care at Wildbase to clear any risk of infection and then he spent some time rehabilitating in the comfort of Nga Manu Nature Reserve before returning to the island. Although Noam has lost the sight in his eye from his injury, he has recovered well and has since been re-united with his partner Purakaunui and together have been released back into their territory on Mana Island. Both Wildbase and Nga Manu are a great support to the Takahē Recovery Programme by providing high quality and skilled care to takahē in need. In the WildMurchison MountainsIn the wake of celebrating the takahē population reaching the 300 milestone a further 25 birds were released into the Murchison Mountains over the summer. There are now 52 birds in the Mountains with transmitters, which allows the team to remotely monitor their survivorship and location from an aircraft with a Skyranger receiver. Transmitters are fitted to the birds with harnesses and have a battery life of 5 years. When the batteries are nearing the end of their life, the rangers will track the birds and replace the hardware. Having the wild birds in the hand is also a great opportunity to carry out health checks, see who they are paired up with and band any young birds that they might have with them. The 2016/2017 summer saw both a beech and tussock masting event, providing plentiful food for rodents in the Mountains - the Programme will be scheduling more frequent Skyranger flights to keep a close tabs on the birds and how they are fairing, with the potential increase in stoat numbers over the next year. Look out for more information in the next issue on stoat plagues, what they mean for takahē and how the Programme manages them. Experience Lake Orbell Guided WalkOn the 4th March the Takahē Rangers held the annual guided walk up to Lake Orbell within the Takahē Specially Protected area. Sixteen keen members of the public followed in the footsteps of Dr Geoffery Orbell, tramping up into the rugged Murchison Mountains to learn more about the Recovery Programme. For a bit of history - check out this footage of the 1949 expedition into the Murchison Mountains (the first following rediscovery) to study takahē from Archives New Zealand. Site UpdatesBurwood Takahē Centre2016 / 2017 Breeding SeasonIt was another productive season at the Burwood Takahē Centre, the hub of the breeding programme, with 19 pairs producing 23 juvenile birds. The Takahē Rangers intensely manage the nests at Burwood to maximse output from the breeding pairs. Techniques include candling to ensure fertility and transferring singular eggs to foster parents to ensure each nest has two eggs and encouraging the other pairs to re-nest. Over the past few months, 11 juvenile takahē have been transferred to Burwood from around the country. These young birds have been successfully fostered on to resident pairs to learn valuable tussock foraging skills to equip them for life in the wild. Banding and vaccinationsIn April the juveniles received their individual identifier leg bands, vaccinations and also had blood samples collected for DNA sexing. Each bird in the population receives a unique combo of one metal and three plastic coloured bands (2 on each leg). Devon Nicholls and An Pas from Auckland Zoo came down to lend a hand and learn the skill of banding takahē. Megan Jolly, a Wildbase resident vet, was also along to collect blood and faecal samples for her study into coccidia, a protozoan parasite. Candling of a takahē egg Banding juvenile takahē Cape SanctuaryThe Cape Sanctuary takahē had a very successful breeding season, with four juveniles produced from three breeding pairs. This was an extremely pleasing result, especially as one of the pairs was only established just prior to the breeding season. Kāpiti IslandBy Leon The Rangatira trio (Bargie, Aho ake and Ihi) had one chick this year, but unfortunately it was last seen on Boxing Day. Mingi and Bellamy at the North End of the island nested twice but were unsuccessfully in hatching anything. Once the grass dried out in early January the Rangatira trio headed to greener pastures up the back ridge of the island. Mana IslandIt’s been a good season for takahē on Mana Island following a confusing start. When veteran female Buddy decided to dump her partner in favour of another it caused a small chain reaction of pair-swapping. Luckily most of the new partnerships got the green light from the Takahē Recovery Programme, with the exception of Buddy herself who chose a very unsuitable partner....genetically speaking. Five out of eight breeding pairs have raised a chick and they are growing and changing fast. Of the three pairs that didn’t manage a chick this year, two failed during incubation and one in the early chick phase. Efforts were made at harrier control again this year as this seems to have improved the chances of takahē chicks surviving in previous years. However, the harriers seemed far more wary of being trapped and not a single one was caught. Happily, the takahē chicks seems to have made it through regardless. Mana Island receives relatively few visitors despite its closeness to Wellington and the mainland, but the people who do manage to get here are often welcomed by the sight of Pango and Hori, our resident pair around the base who are very used to humans. They’ve become very tolerant of the attention they get and helped to put on a show in this past month for kids from Kiwi Conservation Club and Birds New Zealand. Their new chick is as relaxed at its parents, though I have a theory that they identify me (who they see every day) by my white freezer works gumboots and that anyone wearing white boots will be able to get especially close! By Chris Bell Motutapu IslandThis summer the takahē got into the swing of things trying to save their species. There were 7 breeding groups and they had a total of 10 nesting attempts. However, not all nesting attempts results in the happy sound of the pitter patter of little takahē feet on the island. Two groups successfully raised chicks this year and we look forward to giving these young takahē some lovely leg bands, discover if they are boys or girls and choose the appropriate names. Unfortunately one female died this year….post mortem revealed that, except for the fact that she was dead, she was in good condition! Some of Motutapu takahē are hermits living in the more remote and less visited sites, while others have chosen to live near humans and are found at the Outdoor Education Camp, the campground and stooging around the nursery sampling what’s on offer there before it is planted on the island! By Hazel Speed Orokonui EcosanctuaryThe takahē pairs at Orokonui have had an eventful breeding season. Mohio and Marokopa had two nesting attempts but were unsuccessful this year - however, it was great practise for the young pair. Paku and Quammen, received two eggs from the Burwood Takahē Centre to replace their thought to be infertile eggs. But....much to everyone's surprise they had lain a fertile egg too - Listen to the interveiw with Orokonui's Ranger Elton Smith about the 'miracle' chick! Paku and Quammen have successfully raised their foster chicks and through a naming competition the Southern South Island Fulton Hogan families have named them Wheko and Tumanako. Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife CentreThe Pukaha Community mourns the lose of Bud the Takahē. Bud the Takahē January 1996 - April 2017 A fine trust worthy character who enjoyed the afternoon sun in his aviary, greeting Pukaha visitors at the parking lot gate as well as the Pukaha rangers at the entrance to the takahē enclosure (they usually had food!). Punanga Manu O Te Anau / Te Anau Bird SanctuaryIt has been a very busy summer at Punanga Manu O Te Anau. Rangers held both morning and evening talks for the month of February as so many visitors were utilising the Sanctuary on the long summer evenings. Young Whito, original from Mana Island, has settled in well to keep Uncle Aka company. Kawa and Tumbles successful hatched and raised the 'miracle' egg produced from the presumed infertile pair at Orokonui Ecosanctuary. In February, the Sanctuary held a chick picnic for the chick to received both its identification bands and name. From a naming competition the chick is now aptly called, Ehara (meaning surprise), as suggested by Sue Dela Rue. Although the weather wasn't really suited for picnic-ing, there was a great turn out and the Ōraka-Aparima Kapa Haka group gave a wonderful performance to help the community celebrate the chick. Rotoroa IslandTeichelman and Silberhorn have successfully raised the Island's first takahē chick this season - who received a visit from Sir Richard Branson. The Rotoroa Island Trust and Auckland Zoo's education programme hosts school field trips, learning about takahē and wider conservation management strategies. Wairakei Golf and SanctuaryThe two pairs at Wairakei continue to do well and have proved a popular addition to the Sanctuary. Both pairs had nesting attempts this summer, but neither were successful. It is hoped over the next few years that further retired pairs will join the Wairakei takahē population. Tāwharanui Open SanctuaryTwo years on from their release into the Sanctuary, the takahē at Tāwharanui welcomed their first chick this summer. Also check out this feature article from Predator Free New Zealand about the Sanctuary. Tiritiri Matangi IslandThe family group that raised one chick that reside at the far western end of the island are roaming widely and can be seen anywhere within a radius of 1km of their original territory. The two love lorne females that resided in the middle section of the island remained love lorne over the summer and have now been transferred down to Burwood where they will be paired with suitable males to make high genetic pairings. The lighthouse family are handy to heaps of people photographing them on a daily basis. The chick has grown well, it is fed by mum and its big sister (and occasionally dad). The breeding female has had altercations with one of the single females in January and came out second best in the scrap - just a superficial wound and has healed well and re-feathered. By Vonny Sprey Willowbank Wildlife ReserveMaroro and Sir Ed have been busy with two nests laid this summer. Unfortunately both clutches were infertile but the birds remain a strong pair. One of the eggs was opened to assess whether any development occurred but none was present. Very disappointing for the keepers here. Maroro has been training Sir Ed to use the feed hoppers over the last year. They are currently in their display area more often than normal as areas of their larger pen are in the process of being weeded to encourage grass growth. This makes it a good time to see the birds at the Willowbank site. Can you spot the takahē in the middle photo, taken from the public viewing platform? Willowbank has had several volunteer groups from Christchurch companies working in the takahē enclosure weeding and encouraging grass growth for feeding the takahē. Upcoming groups include Craigmore Farming, Treasury Wine Estates and Jade Software. The birds greatly appreciate their help with the gardening. As you can see here it is a big job! ZealandiaT2 and Puffin, the Zealandia takahē ambassadors have had a busy few months with a record number of visitors popping in to say gidday. Both birds are continuing to thrive in the Sanctuary despite their progressed age. They’ve both featured in the news and on social media in the last few months with: Puffin celebrated her 21st hatchday on 30 November 2016. The Australian Threatened Species Commissioner, Gregory Andrews, and DOC's Threatened Species Ambassador, Nicola Toki, visited Zealandia in February and were treated to some time with T2 and Puffin. Also check out this feature article about the sanctuary that is Zealandia. By Jo Ledington |