Takahe in Takahe Valley, Murchison Mountains, New Zealand

Description: Takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) in its original environment in Takahe Valley. Lake Orbel is behind. According to Professor Alan Mark Takahe eat the soft, juicy bit at the bottom of tussock grass stalks. They eat only 10% of tussock grass so it can recover well. They eat also fern roots and insects.
Unlike introduced deer eat whole tussock grass – so they were eating away the takahe's food. After such forage by deer tussock remains depressed recovering for several years.

[display photography on the map]

Keywords: Fiordland, Lake Orbel, Murchison Mountains, New Zealand, Porphyrio hochstetteri, Takahe, Takahe Valley, birds, conservation, fauna, mountains, restoration, tussock, water, national park, World Heritage site, Te Wahipounamu, Mustela erminea, Cervus elaphus, red deer

Exif: Exposure: 1/200, Aperture: 5.0, ISO: 100

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