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A record 13 taiko chicks have fledged from a predator-proof covenant on Chatham Island.
In a bid to establish a new colony, all of the chicks hatched in the Tuku Nature Reserve in the south of Chatham Island, have been moved to artificial burrows within the adjacent Sweetwater Conservation Covenant. Owned by Bruce and Liz Tuanui, the 4 hectare covenant is fenced to keep out pigs, possums, cats and rats.
With a population of around 150 individuals and just 16 known breeding pairs, Chatham Island taiko (also known as the magenta petrel) are critically endangered. They were thought to be extinct for more than a century before being rediscovered in 1978 by school teacher and ornithologist David Crockett and a band of keen volunteers. Following on from this success, David Crockett formed the Taiko Trust which has played a critical role in helping to fund research and management of taiko.
Over recent years, modern technology has been used to vastly improve knowledge of the species and aid in their management.
Department of Conservation ranger, Dan Palmer says "This year we've attached aerials to the entrances of 30 taiko burrows, which electronically scan an identification tag (passive integrated transponder) inserted under the taiko's skin. The data from the scanners gives us a lot of information about which birds are visiting the burrows and it allows us to monitor the frequency that the adults feed their chicks with minimal disturbance".
Once the chicks are close to fledging, but before they start to come out of their burrows, they are moved to artificial burrows within the Sweetwater covenant. "Hopefully they'll identify Sweetwater as their home and return there to breed in four to five years time." says Dan Palmer.
The chicks stayed in their artificial burrows for 6 to 18 days. While the chicks were at Sweetwater they were weighed, measured and given an occasional sardine smoothie. The Taiko Trust also took this opportunity to arrange a visit from the local school. The children relished the chance to see taiko (and Chatham petrel) chicks close-up.
Dan Palmer said "The chicks need to be checked every day until they fledge and we fit them with temporary radio transmitters so we can monitor their departure. There is a risk that their first attempt to fly could result in them crash landing out side of the covenant. If that was to happen the transmitter would allow us to locate them so they could be returned to the safety of the predator fenced area. It turned out to be unnecessary because they all made it out to sea on their first attempt."
In another technological advance, the DNA analysis of blood samples taken from taiko has been used to confirm each bird's gender and has revealed some issues with taiko genetics. Recently published research has shown that unpaired taiko are mostly males (indicating they may be having trouble attracting females to their burrows) and some pairs that are too closely related (i.e. a female paired with her son) are less likely breed successfully.
DOC officer Dan Palmer is quick to point out that taiko monitoring and management is not all hi-tech electronics. "DOC staff, walk hundreds of kilometres throughout the summer checking cat traps and filling bait stations to control possums and rats, but at the end of the day we can all be really proud that we've helped to make a difference for this wonderful and very rare seabird".
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Conservation News
