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Buff weka returned to Te Waipounamu
Rob Tipa
Reprinted with permission from the Ngai Tahu magazine, te Karaka - 09/01/04
Eighty years after their disappearance from the inland plains of Te
Waipounamu, Buff weka have been returned to Central Otago and are already
breeding on their new island home on Lake Wanaka.
Thirty birds were transferred from the Chatham Islands to Te Peka Karara
(Stevensons Island) on Lake Wanaka last September, the first step in a
long-term recovery plan by Kai Tahu and the Department of Conservation
(DOC) to protect the species from extinction and, eventually, produce a
sustainable population on the South Island mainland.
Buff weka were once abundant in the drier inland regions of the eastern
South Island. By the late 1920s, however, a combination of rabbit
poisoning, introduced predators and habitat loss took its toll, and the
birds became extinct on the mainland. Two attempts to reintroduce the birds
at Arthur's Pass and Banks Peninsula failed.
The sub-species only survived because 12 birds were transferred to the
Chatham Islands in 1905. Fortunately, these birds thrived and multiplied to
a sizeable population of about 60,000 birds today. An annual sustainable
harvest of weka (5,000 birds) is allowed on the islands.
Talk of reintroducing this species to the South Island dates back almost a
decade. The project was initiated by Ka Papatipu Runaka o Araiteuru,
(comprising the four Otago/Southland runaka of Moeraki, Puketeraki, Otakou
and Hokonui, with iwi support from Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu and the Kaupapa
Taiao Unit) in a joint venture with DOC.
Planning and negotiations between the Kai Tahu and participating Chathams
iwi took at least two years and at times were 'sensitive and intense',
according to DOC's Otago Conservancy Kaupapa Atawhai manager, Matapura
Ellison.
The project had the key support of Mr Alfred Preece, from whose land the
birds were captured. The Moriori iwi were supportive from the outset and
consultations were held to deal with the concerns of the other Chatham
Islands iwi. It took the personal involvement of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu
kaiwhakahaere Mark Solomon to gain agreement from all four Chatham Islands
iwi.
Since 1995 numerous studies on the feasibility of the project, assessments
of suitable habitats and transfer and release strategies have been
undertaken. Te Peka Karara was identified as the most suitable location for
the initial transfer of birds, mainly because it is essentially
predator-free and has adequate plant and invertebrate life to support the
birds.
Technical aspects of the project dealing with transfer permits and a range
of animal husbandry checks went smoothly and so did the transfer of 30
birds from the Chatham Islands to Te Peka Karara in late September 2002.
The birds settled in quickly to a purpose-built aviary on the island and
were confined for at least a month to monitor their health. Pairs were then
progressively released into the wild and their movements were monitored via
radio transmitters by resident seasonal rangers Jo Hiscock and Verity
Harrison.
The birds are omnivorous and will eat anything from coprosma berries,
fruit, insects, lizards and rodents to scraps left by people picnicking on
the island.
Their standard diet in the aviary was a mix of pasta, cheese, eggs, peas,
corn, sardines, raisins and chicken pellets. Pasta was a particular
favourite and the cause of many scuffles between the birds, rangers
observed.
Unfortunately, there were some disappointments. One bird died from a diet
related illness and nine birds escaped by swimming to the mainland. Two of
the escapees were killed on the roads and a third was recovered from the
neighbouring Mt Burke Station. Wekas have a strong homing instinct and the
short distance between the island and the mainland is no deterrent to these
strong swimmers.
However, there were also some pleasant surprises, according to the rangers.
All birds paired up after their release and seven core pairs attempted to
breed straight away. Five chicks fledged and four have survived so there
are now 25 birds left on the island.
Wekas are aggressively territorial and rangers have observed signs of
population pressures on Te Peka Karara. The island's carrying capacity is
estimated at between 15 and 25 birds.
The project team is now looking at its options to transfer some birds to
another island or mainland site. However, alternative sites all present
their own biodiversity problems. Among the options considered is Silver
Island on Lake Hawea.
Resident rangers left Te Peka Karara at the end of March. The remaining
weka are "fat" and in good condition, but supplementary feed will be made
available through the winter to ensure the birds continue to breed.
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| Matapura Ellison on Stephensons Island for the release of the Buff Weka
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Buff weka: flightless and feisty
Buff weka (Gallirallus australis hectori) are large,
reddish-brown, flightless birds known for their inquisitive nature, a
feisty attitude and a good turn of speed.
They were once abundant on the inland plains of the South Island east of
the main divide. It is one of four closely related sub-species of weka
found in New Zealand. The others are the North Island, western and Stewart
Island weka.
Buff weka are similar to western weka, which are generally found on the
west of the main divide between Nelson/Marlborough and Fiordland. Both
species have red-brown legs and feet, but the buff weka has a lighter
(buff) plumage.
The mainland populations of the four sub-species are largely unknown, so
weka numbers today are regarded as either precarious or vulnerable. While
some sub- species are threatened, in other cases the bird has become a pest
to other threatened wildlife, particularly on offshore islands.
To Kai Tahu Whanui, the weka is regarded as a taoka tuku iho, a treasure
handed down from the ancestors. Prior to European settlement, this bird was
a major source of mahika kai (food) in the south. The feathers were highly
valued for making kakahu (clothing), such as cloaks, and their oil was used
to make paints and to preserve food.
Seasonal weka drives were an important social and cultural event in
bringing together whanau, but these annual food-gathering expeditions into
the inland plains of Te Waipounamu ceased about 1870.
Hunters and dogs harvested birds in large numbers in autumn and winter,
when they were fat and in prime condition to preserve in rimurapa (kelp)
bags for consumption during the colder winter months when food was scarce.
Early European settlers, who also regarded the birds as a valuable source
of food, knew weka as "bush hens".
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