NATURAL HISTORY OF THE TAKAHE CAN BE WRITTEN FROM PRESENT KNOWLEDGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27345, 22 March 1950, Page 4

NATURAL HISTORY OF THE TAKAHE CAN BE WRITTEN FROM PRESENT KNOWLEDGE

Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, Mar. 21. Sufficient information has now been obtained about the takahe, which was rediscovered in Fiordland National Park in the summer of 1948, to permit the preparation of an outline of the natural history of the bird. This is now being prepared by Dr R. A. Falla, director of the Dominion Museum, and with illustrations available, it will give the public and scientists in New Zealand and overseas an interesting and authoritative account of this rare bird. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Bodkin, said today that the rediscovery by Dr G. B. Orbell of a small colony of takahe had aroused such world-wide interest that it required no re-telling, but those who wished for news of the bird would be interested to know what had been done and learned by the .parties of scientists and experienced field men who had visited the scene of the discovery.

Though known previously to a few students of Maori place names, it had only recently become more generally known that the ancient Maori name of the sub-alpine lake where the birds were found during the nesting season was Hohaka Takahea, which meant, “nests of takahea.” Recently, Mr K. Miers, field officer of the department, discovered two camps of Maori hunters. Situated under overhanging rock ledges at a nearby limestone cliff, charred remains found clearly showed that moa, kakapo, kiwi and takahe had all been taken for food. These two facts showed that the presence of the takahe was well known by some Maoris. That the moa once existed there in considerable numbers had been proved by another discovery of bones of several species in a nearby cave. State Responsibility Mr Bodkin said the rediscovery of the takahe threw upon the Government the responsibility for immediate action to ensure their protection from the activities of vandals, collectors and misguided persons who, by constant disturbance of the nesting birds, could bring about the extinction of the barely surviving colony. Prompt action was taken by the then Minister of Internal Affairs and Lands in bringdown legislation “sealing off” a large area of Fiordland National Park. This enactment enabled essential control of human entry into the vital region. It was a case of “doing the right thing at the right time,” and had received favourable overseas comment.

The Department of Internal Affairs, working in close co-operation with the Lands and Survey Department, which controlled the park and was the administrating authority for the special legislation, became responsible for the material welfare of the birds. It was a prerequisite to any further protective measures that essential data be obtained as a basis on which to plan. Advantage was taken of Dr Orbell’s desire to return to the area with his original party. Dr Falla consented to make the trip, and he was accompanied by two departmental officers. This reconnaissance provided the basis for future work. Recommendations included further investigation of the habits of the birds, particularly in winter, by parties of qualified scientists and field workers, with a maximum of three persons, an effort to discover further colonies and an attempt to control stoats and deer. These proposals were later confirmed by a committee whose members were widely experienced in the problems of bird study and protection—namely, Dr Falla. Messrs E. B. Turbott, R. H. D. Stidolph, A. P. Harper and C. A. Fleming, together with officers of the wild life branch.

During last August, camp gear and supplies were flown in and a camp established at the bush edge in the valley and after a aay visit by Dr Orbell, a party of three spent a week in the bleak and snow-bound valley under rigorous winter conditions. Seven weeks later, two field officers of the Wild Life Branch carried out four

weeks’ work against the stoats and deer, both in the valley and its immediate vicinity. Useful observations on the birds were also recorded as opportunity offered. Further data was needed to complete the observations carried out by the preliminary expedition during the nesting season in January, 1949. Assisted by a Dunedin ornithologist and two field officers, Dr Falla obtained much valuable information during a visit of one week’s duration in December last. At the end of the week, which had allowed suitable plans to be made, the party was joined by two selected camera men of the National Film Unit working under Dr Falla’s close personal supervision. Photographs and a cinematograph film were taken for public information and as a scientific record.

Lastly, in February, a party of three spent four days at Takahe Valley in order to estimate the success of the nesting season. They were accompanied by three other persons who studied archaeological and geological interests, but were not allowed access to the nesting grounds. Work in Valley

In the period of 15 months since the discovery of the birds, official parties of scientists and wild life workers had spent some nine weeks in the valley. Half this time had been spent in an effort against stoats and deer. Seven stoats had been destroyed in the actual valley and about 30 deer in the general locality, chiefly by Mr F. Woodrow, an expert trapper and hunter. The need for this work was emphasised by the discovery in February of a dead fledgling,' apparently killed by a stoat. “ The posibility of further colonies has been investigated whenever opportunity has offered,” Mr Bodkin continued. “ First, Dr Orbell co-operated by undertaking an aerial survey of the western Te Anau region, when likely areas were noted down. Secondly, distinctive signs of takahe were conveyed to the department’s officers working on deer control in the Fiordland area, and also to the persons who participated in the Fiordland expedition. Thirdly, various reports on the occurrence of the birds eitner recently or in the past has been checked. To this end six special expeditions have been made. These have resulted in definite signs being found in only one other locality. Although no birds were actually seen, the party which was checking this reported occurrence struck bad weather, and was unable to complete the coverage of the whole area. The size of this second colony was therefore not yet known.” After mentioning that sufficient information had been obtained to permit the preparation of an outline of the natural history of the bird, Mr Bodkin said the breeding behaviour, nesting habits, behaviour during the moult, territory and range had all been studied. Food plants used by .the adult birds had been noted at several seasons and some preferences worked out. It was now known from Dr Falla’s evidence that the young takahe first learned to feed itself on insects, a process in which the parents took no part except to lead it to a suitable

place and help to uncover supplies. Within a fortnight it abandoned insects for young grass, and thereafter the birds seemed to be mainly vegetarian. The condition of the birds and their habits under the rigorous climatic conditions experienced during the winter at an altitude of 3000 feet had also been studied, and some information gleaned on their feeding habits at that time. Small Number of Birds “Further work has enabled a revision to be made as to the possible number of birds,” said Mr Bodkin. “This is now assessed at much nearer the suggested lower minimum of 20 than the suggested possible maximum of 100 birds, made in January, 1949. It has been found that no more than two eggs are laid at a sitting, while iri no case has an adult pair reared more than one chick. There is apparently a low rate of fertility and hatching which means that few chicks are reared. This confirms earlier suggestions that the colony might be in a precarious position. Of the six pairs of birds actually known to have laid in 1949-50, the 12 eggs laid are now represented by at most three chicks, of which only one was actually seen by the party last month. All the work so far done has been actuated by a desire to work out the most suitable policy to pursue in order to preserve the birds. There is a high natural mortality, the reasons for which are not all yet known. The survival of the colony appears to depend largely on the solution of this problem. The advent of the stoat must have played its part through the years in increasing the natural hazards under which the eggs are incubated and the chicks reared. The advice and assistance of qualified ornithologists and wild life field workers has been freely sought and as freely given both for the purposes of consultation and for the actual work in the field.

“ It was realised that unless the birds were to be allowed to go to eventual extinction unknown and unwatched, some risks must be taken in the study of the unknown. With this fact in mind, the results obtained show that what direct or indirect damage may have occurred has been kept at a minimum and is negligible compared with that resulting from natural hazards. This has only been possible through the care and skill exercised by those concerned. Now that a programme of approved work has been completed, future plans will be considered jointly by advisory ornithologists and officers of the Lands and Survey and Internal Affairs Departments These plans will be prepared in the light of the present known facts and of the working experience gained during the last 14 months. The proposals will then be submitted for the approval of my colleague, the Minister of Lands, and myself. I am stimulated by the widespread interest in the takahe and I feel that we owe a debt of gratitude to all those workers in the field who, commencing with Dr Orbell have unselfishly, in close cooperation, given of their best in an endeavour to retain for future generations one of our national treasures so dramatically rediscovered.”