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Archives For 30/11/1999

Breakfast battles: Takahē versus pukeko

Department of Conservation —  16/07/2013

By Caroline Carter, Community Relations Ranger, Te Anau

Mention ‘Te Anau Wildlife Centre‘ around here and you’ll find it means many different things to many different birds!

A pukeko. Photographed by Peter Harrison.

For pukeko the Te Anau Wildlife Centre is the place to be seen

For some birds, such as the Auckland Island teal, the Te Anau Wildlife Centre is their retirement home, providing a safe nurturing place where breakfast, lunch and tea are assured.

For others, such as the kea and kaka, it is a place of refuge following the loss of a parent at a young age or being the victim of a road accident.

For some birds, such as the pukeko and ducks, it is the place to see and be seen. They all have wings and could fly away… and sometimes they do, but they just can’t resist returning for those crunchy breakfast pellets and plenty of visitors to keep them amused!

And then there’s the takahē. These are one of New Zealand’s rarest birds and were once thought to be extinct. The Te Anau Wildlife Centre is home to ‘Hebe’ and ‘Monty’, retirees from the breeding programme, along with two parent takahē ‘Kawa’ and ‘Tumbles’, who each year are given a new chick to foster.

A takahe. Photographed by Br3nda on Flickr.

Ta Anau Wildlife Centre is home to some true takahē charcters

Over the summer visitors had the delight of meeting their chick ‘Tawa’. Her reputation grew for being a bird of distinction, who knew exactly what she wanted in life—and that was corn on the cob for breakfast!

Unfortunately for her, Tawa’s breakfast was not sweetcorn but specially designed pellets rich in all the things a captive takahe needs. The pukeko on the other hand would get a sweetcorn to keep him away from the pellets!

The video that follows is comedy gold as Tawa the takahē battles the pukeko for the corn on the cob breakfast.

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Takahē: Squawking from the tussocks

Department of Conservation —  17/06/2013

By Chris Phillips, Takahe Ranger at Burwood Bush Takahē Rearing Unit

A recent winter blast of heavy snow and rain meant a busy week at the Burwood Bush rearing unit in Te Anau.

Our takahē took it in their stride and were quick to take advantage of the extra takahē pellets we put out for them – irresistible takahē  tucker!

Three takahe munching on pellets.

Takahē tucking into their pellets

The water and snow have now receded uncovering damaged fences, drainways and crossings that all need attention.

Happy families of takahē wander round oblivious to all the stress and strain inflicted upon those who hold the prestigious honour of being their guardians.

A snowy blanket over the takahe rearing unit.

A winter blast paid a visit

Renegade takahē, Wal and George, continue to taunt us with their evasion tactics. We need to catch them so we can put them in quarantine prior to sending them off to their new home at Cape Sanctuary. It has been several weeks and so far our numerous attempts at capturing these wily characters have been unsuccessful.

Takahe ranger working in the snow.

Working hard in the snow and rain

Before each attempt we cunningly plan manoeuvres, pour over possible outcomes and counter moves and develop robust, supposedly takahē-proof strategies. So far though, we have been out witted and invariably left sitting in the tussock on empty transfer boxes weeping whilst Wal and George squawk triumphantly from somewhere safe in their 80 hectare kingdom.

Chris holding a takahe whilst Phil Marsh completes a health check and vaccination.

A health check and vaccination for this takahē

The flightless takahē is a unique bird, a conservation icon and a survivor. The takahē was once thought to be extinct, but was rediscovered in 1948. Even today, despite years of conservation effort, the takahē remains critically endangered.

The Department of Conservation Takahē Recovery Programme in partnership with Mitre10 Takahē Rescue is committed to ensuring the survival, growth and security of takahē populations throughout New Zealand.

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Jobs at DOC: James Arnold – Ranger

Department of Conservation —  18/01/2013

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile James Arnold, Ranger – Biodiversity Threats.

Name: James Arnold.

Position: Standing up, A band Biodiversity threats.

James Arnold holding a takahe.

My first takahē release

At work…

What kind of things do you do in your role?

Kill weeds and protect trees—mostly the killing part.

What is the best part about your job? 

The places we get to go.

James Arnold mixing a knapsack.

Myself mixing a knapsack

What is the hardest part about your job?

Leaving every day.

What led you to your role in DOC? 

I got tired of being a chef and needed a change of pace.

What was your highlight from the month just gone?

Unleashing mass amounts of pain on the periwinkle on Blumine Island.

James Arnold spraying weeds.

Myself on the spray gun with Damon acting as the hose guide

The rule of 3…

3 loves

  1. Food.
  2. Cooking.
  3. Hunting.

3 pet peeves

  1. People who dump their garden waste over the sides of roads.
  2. Angry drivers.
  3. Paradise ducks (many a ruined hunt).

3 foods

  1. Homemade aoli.
  2. Venison.
  3. Strawberry cheesecake.
Aubrey Tai with a minor old man's beard infestation.

Aubrey Tai with a minor old man’s beard infestation

3 favourite places in New Zealand

  1. St. Omer.
  2. Maud Island.
  3. Paringa river on the West Coast.

Favourite movie

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs.

James Arnold Hunting.

A nice relaxing weekend

Deep and meaningful…

What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?

Lotto numbers.

Who or what inspires you and why?

Calvin Tuck –  keep on trucking big man.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A ninja.

And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be?

A ninja.

What sustainability tip would you like to pass on?

Stop dumping waste over the sides of roads. Eventually someone has to clean it up.

Which green behaviour would you like to adopt this year—at home? At work?

Kill more weeds.

A photo of the sunset.

Northern camp sunset looking towards Picton/Maud Island.

If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why?

A moa—freak some scientists out lol.

What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?

Don’t ignore weeds! It’s all good having cuddly species again, but if they have nowhere to live, what then?

Track on Blumine Island.

The only flat part on Blumine Island, around 10m of track

In Hunting, Jobs at DOC, Nelson/Marlborough, Weeds , , , , ,
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Motutapu helping secure takahē survival

Department of Conservation —  23/11/2012

From Fiordland to Motutapu island, in the heart of Auckland, is a long way to travel in a day – particularly if you’re a flightless bird. Nine takahē made the journey on Sunday November 4.

The birds were captured early in the morning at Burwood Bush Takahē Rearing Unit, near Te Anau, by rangers who run Mitre 10 Takahē Rescue. They were placed in transportation boxes and driven to Queenstown Airport to catch an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland.

The birds joined passengers on board a regular Air New Zealand flight to Auckland.

DOC Takahē Recovery Programme Manager Phil Tisch and Mitre 10 Sponsorship and PR Co-ordinator Alison Rowland at Auckland Airport with the takahē.

DOC Takahē Recovery Programme Manager Phil Tisch and Mitre 10 Sponsorship and PR Co-ordinator Alison Rowland at Auckland Airport with the takahē

The takahē proved popular with the Air New Zealand stewards and passengers on the flight. They were thrilled to be able to see the rare birds – there are only 260 in the world – inside their boxes. On arrival at Auckland Airport the takahē were carried from the plane to DOC and Mitre 10 utes and driven to Devonport. There they were transferred to a DOC boat, Taikehu, and ferried to Home Bay on Motutapu.

Ngai Tahu representative, Stewart Bull, made the journey from the deep south with the birds. He linked with Ngai Tai and Ngati Paoa representatives to provide a powhiri for the takahē on Motutapu. The birds were then released into native vegetation planted by volunteers from the Motutapu Restoration Trust.

Mitre 10 staff and family at takahe release on Motutapu.

Mitre 10 staff and family at takahe release on Motutapu

Ella, a takahē released on Motutapu on August 27, 2011, curious about new takahē arriving on November 4, 2012.

Ella, a takahē released on Motutapu on August 27, 2011, curious about new takahē arriving on November 4, 2012

The birds join four other takahē released on Motutapu on August 27 last year. The first release marked the declaration of Motutapu and neighbouring Rangitoto – the islands are joined by a short causeway – as pest free. Ella, one of the takahē released last year, was seen at Home Bay checking out the action surrounding the arrival of the new birds.

A powhiri for takahē on Motutapu.

A powhiri for takahē on Motutapu

The translocation on November 4 was the largest movement of takahē outside Fiordland ever. The aim is to have up to 20 breeding pair on Motutapu. This will make it the largest population of takahē outside Fiordland. This is an important step in securing the survival of takahē as the other pest free islands providing a safe haven for the species – Kapiti, Mana, Maud and Tiritiri Matangi – are now running out of room for the birds. Motutapu provides a large safe site, with a good habitat for takahē, that will enable the overall population to keep growing.

Two takahē are released onto Motutapu Island.

Two takahē are released onto Motutapu Island

A big thank you to Phil Tisch, the Takahe Programme Manager, who travelled with the birds all the way from Burwood to Motutapu Island; Phil Marsh and Helen Dodson who helped trap the birds in Burwood; Claudia Babirat who filmed the whole transfer; Glen Greaves, the Takahē Productivity Manager, who helped out with the release; and Andrew Nelson and Hazel Speed from Auckland who put a huge amount of effort into organising the event on the day.

DOC’s partnership with Mitre 10 is crucial in the work to ensure takahē survive. Takahē were thought to be extinct until rediscovered in 1948 in the Murchison Mountains deep in the Fiordland National Park. DOC has been working with Mitre 10 to save takahē since 2005.

In Auckland, Native animals, Volunteers , , , ,
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Growing Minds programme bringing students to Tiritiri Matangi Island

Department of Conservation —  01/11/2012

The Supporters of  wildlife sanctuary Tiritiri Matangi (SOTM), an island conservation have launched the Growing Minds programme, aimed at bringing more school children to Tiritiri Matangi Island for the day.

With help of the Auckland Business community, Growing Minds give children – particularly those from lower decile schools – the opportunity to experience a day out on Tiritiri Matangi and see how every person can make a difference to conservation.

Students investigating the rocky shore on Tiritiri Matangi.

Students investigating the rocky shore on Tiritiri Matangi

Running Events, an Auckland based event management company, has provided generous sponsorship for Growing Minds’ first year. Its 2013 events—the Westfield Albany Lakes Summer Series and Skechers Coatesville Classic—will be 100% non-profit and staff will work for six months for free to guarantee at least $25,000 for Growing Minds.

This will mean a day out on Tiritiri Matangi for at least 1,000 kids during the first year of the Growing Minds programme. Each child will travel free, receive a drink bottle to take home with them, and their school will be given a further $5 per child to go towards their lunch for the day. Ferry company 360 Discovery is also partnering with the programme, funding the accompanying teachers and adults at a ration of one free adult to six children.

Kids reading a sign board on Tiritiri Matangi.

Kids reading a sign board on Tiritiri Matangi

Greg the takahe gives ranger Jennifer Haslam a hand with the introductory talk on Tiritiri Matangi.

Greg the takahe gives ranger Jennifer Haslam a hand with the introductory talk on Tiritiri Matangi

Originally cleared for farming, the Tiritiri Matangi Scientific Reserve (Open Sanctuary) is now the site of one of the most successful conservation projects in the world. SOTM, a non-profit conservation volunteer group which formed in 1988, is a major contributor to the success of the island as an open sanctuary.

Since 1984 thousands of people have volunteered their labour or donated money to the project. Over 280,000 trees were planted by volunteers between 1984 and 1994. Most replanted areas are now well established and the island is home to many of our endangered birds including hihi, kokako, takahe and tieke. Volunteer work has shifted to tasks such as bird monitoring, translocations, guiding and inspiring the many visitors to the island, and working with schools through conservation education.

Kids fascinated by takahe up close.

Kids fascinated by a takahe

The Growing Minds programme is a great example of how a community group and local business are working in partnership to achieve more for conservation than DOC can do alone. For many of the children participating in the programme, it will be their first boat trip, let alone their first trip to a conservation island. Without the programme many children may never have the chance to see this inspiring “conservation in action”.

Red Beach Primary School students at the Tiritiri Matangi Visitors Centre.

Red Beach Primary School students at the Tiritiri Matangi Visitors Centre

For more information on the Growing Minds programme go to www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/school-visits.

For more information on Running Events’ run and walk events go to www.albanylakes.co.nz and www.coatesvilleclassic.co.nz.

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