First Takahē chicks hatch in Greenstone Valley

The Takahē population continues to grow with the first two chicks from Greenstone Valley's new wild Takahē population hatching from their eggs.

The chicks' parents were part of a group released into the area in two batches in August and October.

Another great indication that the birds are settling in well to their new home is that a new nest was found in the Greenstone Valley in the last fortnight. 

Meaning, there's still another five nests, each with two eggs waiting to hatch.

Eighteen Takahē were released into the Greenstone Valley area in August, just before breeding season, to start a third wild population of native South Island bird. In mid-October, another six sub-adult takahē were also released at the same site.

A DOC spokesperson says it'll be a few more weeks before they find out about the remaining nests, but it was yesterday (Wednesday, November 29), when they discovered the first two birds had hatched.  

"We take a hands-off approach to the takahē nesting to let it occur naturally and we will check other nests for signs of chicks hatching from eggs in the next few weeks," the spokesperson says. 

Once believed to be extinct, there are now more than 500 Takahē in New Zealand, and around half live in the wild.  

The other two wild populations are in Fiordland’s Murchison Mountains and the Kahurangi National Park.

Main image (Facebook/Takahē Recovery): One of the Takahē nests and Takahē parent 'Wairenga' on a nest.