Takahe nest and eggs discovered
Less than a year after takahe¯ were first released into the Kahurangi National Park, three eggs have been discovered in a nest in the tussock.
Department of Conservation takahe¯ senior ranger Glen Greaves was the first to come across the nest in Gouland Downs, near the Heaphy Track, during a recent monitoring visit.
Greaves said he did ‘‘a little dance and pumped his fist’’ when he saw the eggs.
‘‘It’s a massive deal, it’s the first wild population outside Fiordland for centuries and we didn’t know for certain the site would be suitable so getting this positive news is a huge lift for the programme.’’
The translocation of 18 birds into the Kahurangi in March was the first attempt at establishing a wild takahe¯ population outside of the Murchison Mountains in Fiordland. A further 12 birds were transported to the Gouland Downs in May.
Greaves said the nest belonged to a trio, and the eggs had been laid by females Te Uatorikiriki and Pipper.
Takahe¯ typically formed pairs but where there was a high density of birds, they were known to form trios which had happened among the Gouland Downs’ population. ‘‘It is not a problem because we know from experience they can successfully incubate three eggs,’’ Greaves said.
Females usually sat on the nest during the day, swapping over with the male at night, but in the case of a trio, they would split the day into three and take turns.
Greaves said other takahe¯ had been observed undertaking nesting activity and the eggs were a good indication the birds were doing well in the new environment. He said translocation could be quite unsettling for birds and there had been evidence of fighting between males over females and territory, which was normal behaviour.
Greaves said it was too early to say whether the eggs were fertile but if they were, they were expected to hatch in early to middecember.
Takahe¯ breeding season generally started in October and Greaves said there was still plenty of time for others to settle down and attempt to nest this year.
The takahe¯ team would continue to monitor the population closely over the next few months with all eggs checked for fertility and hatchability, a process which carried very little risk for the birds.
At the end of January, the team planned to put leg bands on the new chicks so they could follow their success.
As part of the Takahe¯ Recovery Programme, birds will continue to be released at the site to help establish the population.
An additional 10 birds are earmarked to join the others at Gouland Downs in early 2019.