First takahē eggs found in nest after birds moved to Kahurangi National Park

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Getting three takahē ready for release. Fulton Hogan director Bob Fulton, left, executive manager Jules Fulton and DOC senior biodiversity ranger Glenn Greaves in the Kahurangi National Park.

Less than a year after takahē were first released into the Kahurangi National Park, three eggs have been discovered in a nest in the tussock.

Department of Conservation takahē 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.'

* First population of takahē outside of Fiordland released into wild

* After more than 100 years, takahe to be reintroduced to Kahurangi**

The translocation of 18 birds into the Kahurangi in March was the first attempt at establishing a wild takahē 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.

Takahē 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.

The three takahē eggs were a good indication the birds were doing well in the new environment.

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 takahē 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.

Scoop the takahē outside the Gouland Downs hut in the Kahurangi National Park.

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 mid-December.

Takahē 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 takahē 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 Takahē 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.