Critically endangered Takahe numbers crash – But some good news
17/11/2009 09:48:45
DOC Takahe Recovery ranger Ross Curtis (R) and Te Anau Mitre 10 manager Paul Evans (L). Photo: Jonathan Larrivee Fiordland Helicopters.
Largest takahe release into the Murchison Mountains
November 2009. Sixteen juvenile takahe have been released into an extensively trapped area in the Murchison Mountains, Fiordland National Park. This is the largest release of juvenile birds into the Murchison Mountains.
The birds, raised at the Burwood Bush Rearing Unit near Te Anau, are the first to be introduced into the mountains following the establishment of the extended trapping programme in 2008.
60,000 acres of stoat control
At nearly 60,000 hectares it's the country's largest stoat control programme, covering the entire area of the Murchison Mountains Special Takahe Area - home to the critically endangered takahe.
Kiwi & Blue duck benefit
Department of Conservation (DOC) takahe recovery ranger Glen Greaves said not only are takahe benefiting from the increased protection provided by the 1630 traps but so are other species vulnerable to stoat predation like kiwi and the whio/blue duck.
Mr Greaves said a monitoring survey highlighted how effective stoat control is in the mountains.
"During last season's stoat plague the number of takahe outside the trapped area dropped 60 percent compared to a four percent decline within the trapped area."
He said the extended trapped area will also have a positive impact on the takahe breeding season. While it was going to be a late breeding season due to the cold spring weather the volume of food available in the Murchison Mountains was encouraging.
Good breeding season predicted
"There were a lot of single birds in the population following the 2007/08 decline. Most now appear to have found a new mate, and the habitat is in pristine condition due to intensive deer control, so it looks like it will be a really good breeding season."
Takahe numbers fell 35% in 2008 - Just 230 birds left alive
New Zealand's total takahe population nearly hit 300 in 2008, but soaring stoat numbers in the Murchison Mountains saw that number fall to about 230. It is estimated that there are about 100 birds in the mountains with the remainder on five pest free islands.
takahe factsFive of the birds released came from offshore islands, the other 11 came from the Burwood Bush Rearing Unit. The juvenile birds will pair up and begin nesting in two to three years. The rearing facilities at Burwood were recently modernised and extended with sponsorship funds received by Mitre 10 - making the rearing of 16 juveniles, possible. It is estimated there are only 230 takahe in existence The takahe is a flightless bird. It was once thought to be extinct until 1948 when a few pairs were found in the Murchison Mountains, Fiordland National Park.
| Stoats kill adult takahe as well as eating chicks and eggs. As the takahe population increases so does the chances of seeing birds outside the Murchison Mountains Special Takahe Area. Stoat control, initially covering about a third of the Murchison Mountains Special Takahe Area, was set up in 2002 to test its effectiveness. More information about this special bird can be found on the Department of Conservation website. Takahe information The Mitre 10 Takahe Rescue sponsorship has been running for nearly five years. Destruction of habitat by deer and predation by stoats are two of the greatest threats to takahe.
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