Welcome to the Midnight Collective Broadsheet 111
Actively
supporting NZ’s endangered wetland birds
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| Takahe - Kapiti Island |
The
Takahe have had a very chequered history of survival since their rediscovery in
1948. They were transferred to Kapiti Island following the clearance of pests
though by the late 1990’s, there were still only around 200 birds in existnce. In
the passed 16 years they have climbed to around 250 minus four for
those shot on Motutapu. 500 is thought to be a viable population. The following
notes are drawn from the Kapiti Island field book -1999-2001 which brings to
life a rescue story full of both ecstasy and agony. It is notable too, that it
was from this time that women started to play a much more prominent role in
local conservation practise.
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| Takahe - Kapiti Island |
This
drama unfolded in the flat, wet land area immediately in front of the then
Rangers house Key people
here are rangers Julie and Daryl (you know who you are!) along with the late,
great Peter Daniels. As these birds matured they were farmed out to new
colonies on Maud and Mana Islands. The accompanying photographs are of older
birds now on Kapiti, and from Maud Island -the progeny of the birds in this
story.
Nesting (October 1999) -Taku (Male) and Squeak (Female)
30
Oct -Found nest under flax at Northwest
end of Rangatira Swamp. 2 eggs.
31
Oct -Nest checked for flooding. All ok.
Eggs weighed, measured, candled. Squeak fine pecked lightly at my hand and
stood up. But calm, no stamping. Egg with malpositioned air-cell but otherwise
fine. Consulted Daryl still may hatch ok. Due 15-17 Nov -Cold southerly heavy
rain Checked nest 4.37pm. Nest dry. Surrounding ground waterlogged. Rain to
clear so didn’t disturb nest.
15
Nov -One egg hatched.
17
Nov -Nest empty – One chick seen, second possible. Very difficult viewing in
dense raupo.
26
Nov -Lots of sign around large ngaio. Sighted 1 chick but then I had a hay
fever induced sneeze session. End of effective spying!
5
March 2000 -Taku last seen alive on lawn by clothesline
18
March -Decomposing body of Taku found behind generator shed
1
June -Montague (Taku and Squeaks
remaining chick) named. Monty to his friends. Weight appearance and
measurements suggest male.
18
June -He’s a boy!! Official – DNA
feather test from Massey.
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| Month old takahe chick - Mana Island |
Courtship
26
August -Beaker, Monty & Bargie
- feeding quietly. Bargie wary. Beaker and Monty slowly moved over.
Beaker with wings up displaying – slow graceful ‘intro’ steps. Bargie moved
away. Slowly over next half hour or so all moved together. Much mutual wings up
display by adults. One or two
subdued scuffles. Bargie chasing Monty (Adolescent) a few times. Monty hiding
under nearby bushes making chick noises. More scuffles but Beaker and Bargy
mostly gracefully strutting around each other…
28
August -All three turned up at
Julie (Ranger’s) house. Fed quietly but as soon as pellets finished Bargie
chased and pecked Monty. Monty not fighting back. Beaker later seen displaying
to Bargie – Beak to the ground. Bum to the sky.
But
three days later a change of partners
31
August -Monty’s colours starting to appear – Monty’s shield turning bright red
at base. Still blackish on beak. Legs full red but still quite dull. Bargie
looks to be in great condition. Legs quite orange. Squeak (the senior female) looks good too.
6
Oct -Several reports of exhibitionist bonking going on between Bargie and
Squeak over the last few days.
10
October. -NEST! -Squeak found on
nest just seaward of beehives. Latrine looks one - two days old.
10
Nov -One chick observed.
15
Nov -Bargie sitting on remaining egg
17
Nov -Nest abandoned. Adults and chick in bracken nearby. Second egg addled.
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| Month old takahe chick - Mana Island |
22 January 2001 Tragedy
strikes.
Squeak Monty and Bargie
turned up on lawn with no chick. Chick found on grass path. Unsteady, wobbly,
rearing up. Taken to Ranger’s house. Falling over backwards. Tried to feed –
Honey and Vit B in solution (Advice from Kate -Kakapo team vet) but too
distressed to drink properly. Vet from Paraparaumu on boat – Exam revealed no
obvious reasons for illness. Given intravenous glucose and vitamins. Seemed to
revive a little - transferred to Massey (University) midday. Chick x-rayed
swallowed large amount of pebbles, but compared to other chick x-ray and found
to be normal. Continued with food and fluid therapy and started on antibiotics.
Vet reports slight improvement, though sounds worse (curled toes, can’t stand)
taking bloods in hope of a diagnosis.
No
sign of Bargie – finally located on track near visitor loos. Standing on one
leg, wings drooping on both sides. Head turned to the side. Called and
responded well. Followed me back to others. Appeared unpreened, otherwise ok.
Searched for signs of contaminant in area where Bargie and chick found- Nil found. 15 minutes later
Bargie hadn’t moved - standing on one leg with drooping wings and head to side
again. Bargie caught, weighed, swabbed and pooh sampled. Held in small pen
o-nite in case ill.
24
January -Bargie looking ok. Drinking plenty –eating pellets – Test results back
ok – released.
25
January -Chick died at Massey.
22
March -Aho Ake turned up (adult takahe from North End of island). Hanging
around with resident birds. No fights!
2
September -Bonking Takahe -Bargie
mated with Squeak on Julie and Daryls front lawn while Aho Ake looked on. Seen
a few times over the last few days. When Bargie approaches Squeak and they
begin mating behaviour Aho Ake rushes over and interrupts and tries to mate
with Squeak himself – but she wont cooperate with him. He seems to be stopping
mating attempts by Bargie – who appears very relaxed about it all.
5
October -Squeak back on nest on edge of swamp – near battery shed. 2 eggs.
7
November -Chick heard. Came off nest in response to tark noises I made. Looks
great. Healthy – half hour later 2 chicks heard.
4
January 2 adults with chick outside veggie garden. Aho Ake quite protective of
it. Chick is still fluffy but
tall. Long legged and white bum patch beginning to show.
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| Takahe family on Mana Island - Year old chick at right |
Takahe
are still on Kapiti. There are three at Rangatira, but the Island is no longer
a major part of their rescue programme.
Mana Island just south of Kapiti, is a table island, with open tussock
country much more suited to takahe and they are thriving there. So these older
Kapiti birds are enjoying retirement and this time of year go walkabout and
appeared to have made their way to the southern end of the Island.
Suzie wants Sting's Fields of Gold this week but when we voiced our skepticism -Don’t ask me she announced…ever again…Oops - So here it is all right…
You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
as we walk in fields of gold. ...
Will you stay with me,
will you be my love
among the fields of barley?
And we'll be working on mending that particular fence for you over the next little while...though still no-one has any idea of her whereabouts, though we'd say from this response that it was North of somewhere (else).
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