Takahe - Porphyrio mantelli hochstetteri

            I had fun concentrating on getting close-ups of the Takahe at Zealandia the other day.
One of the rarest birds in the world with only some 250 birds remaining.
Photographed at Zealandia.
Takahe are a flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand and belonging to the rail family. It was thought to be extinct after the last four known specimens were taken in 1898. However, after a carefully planned search effort the bird was rediscovered by Geoffrey Orbell near Lake Te Anau in the Murchison Mountains, South Island, on November 20, 1948. The specific scientific name commemorates the Austrian geologist Ferdinand von Hochstetter. A related species, the North Island Takahē (P. mantelli) or mōho is extinct and only known from skeletal remains. Both forms were long assumed to be subspecies of mantelli and were usually placed in the genus Notornis. However, it has been determined that the differences between Porphyrio and Notornis were insufficient for separating the latter, whereas the differences between the North and South Island forms justifed the splitting into two species as each evolved independently towards flightlessness. The Takahē is the largest living member of the Rallidae; its overall length is up to 63 cm (24.8 in) and its average weight is about 2.75 kg (6 lbs), ranging from 1.8-4.2 kg (4-9.2 lbs). It is a stocky bird, with reduced wings, strong legs and a massive bill. The adult Takahē is mainly purple-blue in colour, with a greenish back and inner wings. It has a red frontal shield and red-based pink bill. The legs are pink. Sexes are similar, the females being slightly smaller, but young birds have mainly pale brown plumage. This is a noisy species with a loud clowp call. The species is still present in the location where it was rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains. Small numbers have also been successfully translocated to four predator-free offshore islands, Tiritiri Matangi, Kapiti, Maud and Mana, where they can be viewed by the public. Additionally, captive Takahē can be viewed at Te Anau and Mt Bruce wildlife centres. In June 2006 a pair of Takahē were relocated to the Maungatautari Restoration Project. In total there are about 225 remaining birds making this one of the most rare birds in the world!
The near-extinction of the Takahē is due to a number of factors: over-hunting, loss of habitat and introduced predators have all played a part. Since the species is long-lived, reproduces slowly, takes several years to reach maturity, and had a large range that has drastically contracted in comparatively few generations, inbreeding depression is a significant problem. The recovery efforts are hampered especially by low fertility of the remaining birds; genetic analyses have been employed to select captive breeding stock in an effort to preserve the maximum genetic diversity.
The Takahē is found in alpine grasslands habitats. It eats grass, shoots and insects. The Takahē can often be seen to pluck a snow grass stalk, taking it into one claw and eating only the soft lower parts which is a favorite food. The rest is discarded. This species builds a bulky nest under bushes and scrub and lays two buff eggs. It is territorial. The chick survival rate is 73-97%.
   

Taken in: New Zealand / Wellington / Wellington / Highbury (show map)

Taken on: April 13, 2012

Tags:

bird

nature

Takahe

Porphyrio

Porphyrio mantelli

rail

Zealandia

Karori Sanctuary

Wellington

New Zealand

Canon « less

Sets appears in: • Takahe - Porphyrio hochstetteri • Best birds more » • Zealandia - Karori sanctuary • Native Birds of New Zealand « less

Camera: Canon EOS 400D, 1/320 sec, 200mm, ISO 800 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 400D
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/320)
Focal Length:	200mm
ISO:	800
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Metering Mode:	Average
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	QuickTime 7.6.6
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