The Upper Whakatipu gets another takahē tick of approval, with the nationally vulnerable birds nesting in both the Greenstone and Rees valleys.
The first chicks of the season have started hatching in the Greenstone Valley, while the recently released Rees Valley population has started laying eggs.
Department of Conservation Takahē Recovery Sites Project Lead Jason van de Wetering says these chicks and nests are another great sign for an iconic species once thought to be extinct.
"Careful management, collaboration with our partners Ngāi Tahu, the efforts of groups like Southern Lakes Sanctuary, and support from national partner Fulton Hogan, have made the longstanding goal of returning takahē to more of their natural range a reality.
"For a long time, the only place takahē could be found in the wild was the remote Murchison Mountains in Fiordland, with most takahē otherwise living in predator free sanctuaries and offshore islands. Now, more than half of all takahē live across four wild sites.
"While it's still too early to say whether takahē will establish here for the long term, to have takahē nesting at these new wild sites is a strong sign the habitat is supporting them well."
The Greenstone population, released onto Ngāi Tahu tribal property Greenstone Station in 2023, successfully raised chicks that summer, but not in 2024.
The Rees Valley takahē are younger and less experienced, so may not be as successful at raising chicks this year. However, the presence of fertile eggs so soon after their release is an exciting first step towards a self-sustaining population, Jason says.
"Takahē are far from secure in the wild and it takes patience and perseverance to establish these wild sites for the long-term. It is thanks to the hard work of Southern Lakes Sanctuary and their effort to suppress predators that we can have takahē in the Rees Valley. Success is never guaranteed. For now, all eyes will be on the nests over the coming weeks and months to see how things progress."
Southern Lakes Sanctuary's Paul Kavanagh says this nesting shows what's possible when sustained conservation efforts and good science come together with genuine partnership.
"The land custodians, our partner group Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust, and our team have worked hard for years to give taonga like takahē a fighting chance, so to witness them settling and nesting, is incredibly special for our team and our community."
As takahē become more established in these locations, sightings are likely to increase. Jason says the recovery programme's goal of having people see a once-thought extinct bird in the wild is happening, with plenty of reported sightings along the Rees-Dart track.
"As the population grows, they will start popping up in all sorts of places. If you're lucky enough to see one while out naturing or in your backyard, give it space, keep any dogs away, and admire the return of one of Aotearoa's iconic species to their former natural range."
