In October last year we released 10 takahē intoTāwharanui Open Sanctuary, North Auckland.This nationally critical species has come to Tāwharanui as a secure site that may enable breeding to improve the population and its conservation status.
Despite being released 2km in a straight line from the Mangatawhiri wetland and further as the takahē trundles, six of the 10 birds havechosen to take up residence here for several weeks and now appear very stable and settled.
As the young birds age and set up pairings and territories this may reduce but for now they’re enjoying their new home and are easily viewable by visitors to the park.
Banrock Station Wines and Wetland Care New Zealand funded the restoration of this wetland in 2007-2008 in preparation for pateke reintroduction. Since then pateke have done very well. Pleasingly, a number of other birds have taken up residence, notable inclusions being spotless crake, banded rail, Northland Brown Kiwi and Australasian bittern.
Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary is a pest free regional park integrating conservation with recreation and farming. It is managed as a community partnership between Auckland Council and Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary Society Inc (TOSSI). See www.tossi.org.nz
Just as we thank those who helped with restoration of the wetland, we’d like to acknowledge the support of our takahē reintroduction partners: Mitre 10 Takahē Rescue, Mitre 10 MEGA Warkworth, the Tindall Foundation, JS Watson Trust, Flight Centre Foundation, Department of Conservation and the generous support of TOSSI members.
Matt Maitland
Senior Ranger Open Sanctuaries.
Northern Regional Parks, Auckland Council.
