Te Whanau, Our Takahē Family
Welcome to the ongoing blog story covering the happenings of our takahē family, known as Te Whānau.
Written by Toni Rigarlsford, Caretaker Manager. Images by James Gow
Starring Dad (Teichelman) and Mum (Silberhorn) with yearling helper 1yr old (Aupiki) + new chick (Teina)
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27 June 2019 - Who's in Charge?
Just so the other takahē have no doubt about who rules supreme on Rotoroa, Silberhorn takes her whanau "on tour" now and then around the provinces, imposing on her minions and raiding their pellet hoppers During the last visit of Te Whānau to the Cable Bay (at the northern end), the permanent residents (Fyffe and Mulgrew) scuttled for cover when Te Whānau o Silberhorn appeared at exactly the right moment to hi-jack dinner time.
Aupiki, the older sister, is showing signs of being "a chip of the old block", and was seen aggressively chasing sparrows away last week.
Can they be likened to Te Whānau Corleone?
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26 May, 2019
Our beautiful takahē chick, Teina, now has colourful plummage and her bill is beginning to turn red! She is growing up fast
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27 April, 2019 - our chick has a name!
Thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate takahē awareness month. Exploring, drawing and discovering more about these extraordinary birds. Three names were put forward as suggestions for our new chick - Aroha, Rotoroa and Teina. Teina was the winning name!
Experienced parents Silberhorn and Teichelman graze contentedly with chick and chick's older sister Aupiki
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11 April 2019
The takahē are currently being social butterflies. Te whanau e wha (the family of 4) have been seen grazing at Home Bay with December arrivals Fyffe and Mulgrew in a group of 6. Never before witnessed on Rotoroa.
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3 April 2019 - It's a girl!
We've just received test results back from takahē recovery programme confirming the chick is a girl. That's 3 girls in a row for Rotoroa!
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19 March, 2019
Te Whanau have surrendered to the life of fame and will take bribes of pellets to make guest appearances and loiter in public spaces for the enjoyment of island visitors. Three month old chick (soon to get blood test results back to determine sex!) is spoilt rotten and has ma, pa, and yearling helper running around to tend it's every need.
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January 2019
Little chick is growing bigger by the week and happily out and about with family around the island.
30 December, 2018
And we have the first photos of the little chick, just 5 weeks old (photo credit to James Gow)
