Hand Reared Pateke Released in Fiordland

Forty rare pateke soon made themselves at home after being released into their new surroundings in remote Fiordland yesterday.

The hand reared pateke/brown teal were flown into the Arthur Valley area near Milford and released by the Department of Conservation.

The latest transfer follows the successful release of 20 birds in the area last year which saw 14 birds survive – one of the highest survival rates ever for first time captive releases.

DOC Te Anau Biodiversity Ranger Andrew Smart said yesterday’s release of 40 birds was made possible by the nationwide effort of private breeders, conservation trusts, Ngati Wai, Ngai Tahu and local businesses supporting the project.

The pateke were prepared for release into the wild at Peacock Springs Wildlife Park in Christchurch where they were taught to use supplementary feeders, banded and fitted with transmitters. They were then flown to Queenstown.

They were then transferred by Real Journeys plane into Milford Sound and helicoptered into the Arthur and Joe Valleys close to the Milford track before being finally released.

Mr Smart will be staying in the area for the next few days to provide supplementary food for the birds as they learn to forage and feed themselves in the wild.

“If survival rates are good more than 200 pateke could be released into Fiordland over the next five years. With only 2000 purebred pateke living in a wild state in New Zealand, this second release of pateke into the south island is going to make a real difference,” Mr Smart said.

Real Journeys General Manager Queenstown, Tracey Maclaren said supporting the release by providing the transfer flight free of charge, was considered extremely worthwhile with long term benefits for native species in the region.

“We are conscious that we operate in a spectacular part of the world and we feel privileged to do so. Being involved in the valuable work being undertaken by DOC certainly fits in with our environmental focus and our Milford Sound Flightseeing pilots were keen to be involved.

“Seeing the birds scuttle off into the undergrowth to settle into their new home was amazing after all the preparation and everyone will be monitoring their progress closely,” Ms Maclaren said.

For more information contact
Andrew Smart
03 249 0200

Or
Tracey Maclaren
Real Journeys
03 442 7509
 

Real Journeys Queenstown General Manager, Tracey Maclaren, releases a pateke in remote Fiordland.