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Tiritiri Matangi Island has had breeding takahē since 1992.
The Department of Conservation is proud of its Tiritiri Matangi takahē after one its breeding pair, Anatori and Tussie, produced two healthy chicks.
Biodiversity ranger Talia Hochwimmer says it is unusual for takahē to produce two offspring in a single breeding season.
Meanwhile, the island’s other breeding pair has also managed to produce a chick, making a total of three new takahē. The total takahē population nationwide is just 450 birds, so every chick is considered precious.
In 2017, Anatori and Tussie experienced the loss of a chick over a suspected territorial dispute with a pukeko. For their protection, the chicks have been hidden from potential predators, including harrier hawk.
Takahē form long-term, sometimes lifelong pairs, and return to their nesting territories in summer after spending winter in search of food.
