Chatham Island Trust News

17 July 2003

The Chatham Island taiko Trust welcomed the Biodiversity Condition fund's $80,000 contribution to a predator-proof fence around a new breeding colony for New Zealand's most endangered bird, the Chatham Island Taiko The grant from the Biodiversity Condition Fund is part of a major fund-raising campaign by the Trust.

Chatham Island Trust Chair, Liz Tuanui said " the grant from the Biodiversity Condition Fund is the start of the Trust's fundraising for the new colony and is the key to survival for the taiko. This project is a world first, where taiko recordings will be played

  $80,000 Funds Boost for New Zealand's Most Endangered Bird.

17 July 2003

A government conservation fund is giving a trust trying to breed New Zealand's most endangered bird an $80,000 boost.

The Biodiversity Condition Fund grant marks the start of the Chatham Island Taiko Trust's campaign to raise funds for a predator-free fence around a new taiko breeding colony.

"This project is a world first, where taiko recordings will be played to attract sexually active unpaired birds to the new predator-proof colony," trust chairwoman Liz Tuanui said yesterday.

The taiko was rediscovered in 1978 by ornithologist David Crockett, in the remote Tuku Valley of Chatham Island.

"The trust's efforts will complement the work of the Department of Conservation, who are controlling predators on the last remaining taiko breeding colony," Ms Tuanui said.

The Chatham Island Taiko Trust is an independent conservation organisation dedicated to saving the taiko and conserving the biodiversity of the islands.

NZPA

Record Number Of Taiko Chicks Fledge

25 May 2003

The last of this seasons taiko chicks fledged successfully on the evening of the 23 May, bringing the total number of chicks this season to ten.. This represents the best season yet for the critically endangered Chatham Island Taiko. Last seasons 7 chicks, was the previous best breeding result.

The result is a satisfying reward for the teams of people involve this season in the effort to control predators in the Tuku valley and thus enable the adult birds to breed successfully.

The discovery of 8 new breeding burrows in the last 4 years by the Chatham Island Taiko Expedition has increased the known breeding pairs from 6 to 14. These new burrows were then able to be included in the predator control worked carried out by the Department of Conservation. It is hoped that the discovery of more breeding birds in the next few years will result in even more chicks in future years.