Joint effort gives takahe sanctuary at Tawharanui

A takahe is far more colourful than a pukeko, with its feathers ranging from deep blue through turquoise to olive green. Photo / DoC

Takahe are famous for one of the most dramatic comebacks in conservation history - but they're not out of the woods yet.

The flightless birds were assumed to be extinct till Geoffrey Orbell rediscovered them near Lake Te Anau in 1948.

But with just 260 in existence and mixed breeding results following the transfer of some to offshore islands, the takahe could still be wiped out by disease or a surge in predator numbers.

The Conservation Department has high hopes from continuing efforts to resettle the birds in pest-free environments.

The flightless takahe resembles a stouter, more colourful version of the pukeko, with feathers ranging from deep blue through turquoise and olive green, while pukeko are mainly black and blue.

The flashier version of the pukeko was once common across New Zealand but it's been almost wiped out by introduced pests, in particular stoats.

On the mainland, most remaining takahe live in Fiordland's Murchison Mountains but a small number are on their way to a "fenced community" north of Auckland.

In spring an unspecified number of the flightless birds will be released into the Tawharanui Open Sanctuary, part of the Tawharanui Regional Park, east of Warkworth.

The project has been a collaboration between Auckland Council and the Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society Inc (TOSSI) and it has an enthusiastic advocate in the council's Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee chair, Christine Fletcher.

"Takahe are one of New Zealand's most threatened native bird species. Welcoming them to Tawharanui is a sign of maturity for the open sanctuary and a measure of success for this community-focussed park. Auckland Council is committed to protecting native bird species and the eco-systems they require to thrive.

"Takahe are a significant taonga for Maori and we look forward to working with iwi on this project," says Fletcher.

Open sanctuary coordinator Matt Maitland says it's a major milestone for council's first open sanctuary and a collaborative effort, centred on the future of a national treasure.

"With only 260 takahe left in the world, including just 60 safe breeding pairs, these birds are just moving back from the brink of extinction."

The Department of Conservation Takahe Recovery Programme is focused on increasing the number of breeding pairs at safe sites to ensure takahe are safe from extinction," he says.

"We're delighted to be partnering with DOC, our community supporters and Warkworth Mitre 10 Mega on this."

Maitland says the first stage will be to extend the fence across the peninsula that creates an "onshore island" predators can't breach.

TOSSI Chairman Steve Palmer says its great that a corporate donor is supporting the extension of the takahe-proof fence but he is appealing to the public to get on board as well.

"Mitre 10 Takahe Rescue is the principal partner of DOC's Takahe Recovery Programme and we are thrilled that the team in Warkworth are partners for this special project.

"We've set ourselves a very ambitious target of raising $30,000 to go towards the takahe fence and funding to care for the birds," he says.

"This project would not have been possible without the support of the agencies, groups and individuals who've worked together to make it happen.

Takahe facts:
* Assumed to be extinct till rediscovered near Lake Te Anau in 1948.
* Flightless, but once common across New Zealand. Almost wiped out by introduced pests, in particular stoats.
* An adult is about the size of a chicken, growing 500mm high and weighing 3kg.
* Close relative of the pukeko but stouter with stubbier legs, a heavier beak and shield, and unlike pukeko have no ability to fly.
* Wings are useful for courting displays and showing dominance.
* Takahe lay eggs on a raised nest made of grass making the eggs and chicks highly vulnerable to stoats.
* Mating pairs produce one to three eggs each season. Of these 80 per cent hatch.
* Both parents incubate the eggs for 30 days and feed the chicks until they are three months old.
* Takahe chicks stay with their parents until a year or sometimes two years old
* Naturally populations are limited to the Murchison Mountains, Fiordland National Park.
* With such small populations, takahe are vulnerable to extinction, particularly if there is a disease outbreak or increase in predator numbers.

Go to www.tossi.org.nz for more donation and TOSSI membership options.