Takahe - New Zealand Bird of the Week

Takahe are truly fascinating birds. As well as being a great example of parallel evolution alongside the North Island Takahe and the Pukeko, they are also a conservation success story and have recovered well since their dramatic rediscovery in 1948. I hope you enjoy!
Background music:
Picturesque - Alex Arcoleo
1 hour of Ambient Fantasy Music Enchanted Lands - Volume 2
Logos by pantydraco on Instagram! / pantydraco
Make sure to like and subscribe to learn more about our wonderful world!
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_I...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffre...
www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magaz...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_I...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_(bird)
nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/n...
nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/s...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4...
teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/1366...
teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/1...
teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/1...
teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/1...
orokonui.nz/upload/files/Taka...
www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/taka...
www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/taka...
www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/taka...
www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-re...
www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/taka...
www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native...
www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/taka...
www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-re...
teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/1...
www.stuff.co.nz/national/29885...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...
www.nzonscreen.com/title/proj...
www.stuff.co.nz/environment/1...
www.theguardian.com/environme...
www.nzonscreen.com/title/orni...
www.nzgeo.com/stories/takahe-...
www.nzgeo.com/stories/takahe-...
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research.
All video/game content is recorded and edited under fair use rights for reasons of commentary and social satire.
#NewZealandBirdoftheWeek

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Voting for the next installment ends this Friday.

[@TheQueenofNeckbeards]

"New Zealand bird of the week" is something I never knew that I needed.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@oposum244]

Takahe:goes extinct Takahe: being found again Cryptozoology community: *happy noises*

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Hope some other "extinct" new zealand birds can also be found.

[@oposum244]

@@HenrythePaleoGuy I hope too, but I think that rodents has already reached all relict populations, if there were some. But hope remains!

[@jessicabauer9225]

What is a happy crypto zoologie sound like ? X)

[@oposum244]

@@jessicabauer9225 well, it's still uNknOwN :D

[@Abyssaracnis]

@@HenrythePaleoGuy Knock Knock, its the Adzebill

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

I love these bois. Glad these bois are still here

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

I'm glad they're around too.

[@anonb4632]

I saw some in a pen in New Zealand. I think they're cute as hell. It would be a shame to lose such a beautiful thing.

[@goognamgoognw6637]

You like the forest ? that's what 'bois' means. They're not wood. Maybe you know the city of Boisé in French colonial USA. Gros béta.

[@aristoddle7947]

@@goognamgoognw6637 Wat

[@raminagrobis6112]

As a birdwatcher myself, I can hardly begin to imagine how emotional that first sighting of the takahe must have been after such a long period of apparent extinction. Inserting the capturing of the rediscovery of this Lazarus species by a persistent naturalist (I missed the name, sorry) on camera was a very neatly done feature of your magnificent video. Honestly, you're among the 5 top KZbinrs in my book. Keep them coming, please!

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

It surely would have been a great experience. Geoffrey Orbell was his name. Hopefully animals like the South Island Kokako, Laughing owl or Piopio are rediscovered as well if some managed to cling on. Thank you for watching!

[@untermench3502]

I was on a hunting trip on the South Island in 1966, when my guide pointed to a bird, low in a small tree, about chest level. He called it a Blue Pigeon and told me I could go and pet it, which I did. At first, I thought he was just trying to play a joke on me, but as I soon found out, it was quite tame and it allowed me to stroke its breast. He explained that the bird was nearly extinct because of this trait, and the early settlers harvested them in great quantities. NZ is a very interesting place.

[@jupekai4601]

They are gorgeous birds. I am glad they were saved.

[@robertfletcher3421]

It is so good to hear a good story where extinction is defeated in a species. Henry, you do fantastic work spreading the word.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

It really is a great thing. I hope to continue to spread knowledge and information in this manner.

[@michaelmckeay8203]

I loved meeting these guys when I went to Terri Terri Matangi island when I was a kid. It's a remarkable place and I loved seeing and interacting with all the native species there.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

They're really cool birds! Love their little noises.

[@strangeperson700]

I am so glad that their description is not in past tense. I hope they evolve to be huge dinosaurs.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Same here. Given that the niche of the Moa is currently vacant, they could potentially fill it in if introduced pests are removed.

[@eybaza6018]

@@HenrythePaleoGuy And if humans are removed from New Zealand for a few milion years obviously, i hope breaktroughs in bird cloning (wich was never done yet), cloning in general and ethics will one day bring back all of New Zealand's Holocene paleofauna back.

[@FakeSugarVillain]

Imagine being contracted to protect the Takahe from a similar looking bird and killing the 5% of all the living Takahes in the proccess

[@geoffreystuttle8080]

That was one tear-down from the boss I'd liked to have witnessed.

[@j-the-researcher8453]

Looks like a giant rainbow finch to me🌈 🐦

[@L3monsta]

Looks like a fat pukeko to me 😜

[@sap6231]

@@L3monsta a pukeko which ate too much food, and became flightless

[@WintrBorn]

I needed a feel good story. Thank you.

[@user-hnjga8is1zr6u]

Australia: where everything can kill you New Zealand: where birds forget to bird

[@graphite2786]

There are some really amazing stories of the first captive takahe rearing attempts at Mt Bruce. For me , this one stands out. Because it made better sense to collect eggs instead of adults for a captive breeding colony, it was decided that bantem hens would be used to brood the eggs, as the eggs were collected. As the trek to and from lake Orbell was hazardous, the hens would have to have exceptionally tenacious brooding instincts! The hens would have to stay on the collected eggs- (a) when the eggs were first collected (b) in a backpack (c) while trekking (d) while abseiling down cliffs ( e) on a motor boat (f) in a plane (g) in an automobile. So. Many hens were assembled and put through vigorous testing . Their nests were put in boxes, sealed, then .....dropped, spun and shaken. They were put on planes, boat and cars. They were swung on ropes. It was like the NASA astronaut testing trials. (Ironically during the same period of history - the USA had spacemen , NZ had chooks) Of the many hens that were tested, 4 never abandoned brooding, these were our heros. The standout was the hen , whose nest box was tied to the roof of a car.....and had the box accidentally scraped off _onto the road_ by a low hanging branch! This hen survive the branch impact, the road impact and the subsequent rolls as well as a couple of hours lost while the researchers looked for her nestbox ( nobody had realized what had happened till sometime later ). When found, she was still brooding the eggs and had actually used her body to cushion them during the accident. Not one egg was cracked !!! The first collection was successful and several takahe were raised. But they were imprinted on people.... I would love to see Taiko Whatiti make a film on the takahe saga, as the whole thing is ridiculous, heroic, depressing but ultimately heartwarming ( Weta films could do the takahe animatronics!)

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Great story! Great that these birds are still alive today.

[@starlightbarking9495]

I live just up the road from Zealandia, but I’ve never been in there. This is reminding me to go visit the sanctuary and see the Takahe. We do get lots of Kaka parrots flying around my suburb from the sanctuary, I’ve often seen them in my garden.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

I'd highly recommend it. I went up there myself in 2019, and it was well worth it. Great to see the results it's had for the wider area.

[@julicaru4812]

Stunning! Well done to all involved ! And thank you Henry for another fascinating look at NZ birds !

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Glad they could be saved by these admirable people. Thank you for watching as well.

[@dboot8886]

Last connection to the moa, shiny walk birbs.

[@oliverwilson11]

This is a convergent similarity. They are only distantly related. Takahe are neoavians, moa were paleognaths.

[@dboot8886]

Oliver Ooo, TIL. Thanks :)

[@petrfedor1851]

@@oliverwilson11 Imagine these guys evovlving into false moa!

[@joshkoshbgosh5564]

Kevin from Up was historically accurate. Both are large blue and green birds that had reported sightings but not confirmed. They were also both thought to be extinct, but that had never truly been proven. They both live in remote and hidden lands that were to hostile for humans to traverse.

[@monkeypie8701]

a snipe is an actual bird tho

[@dubbixdub4376]

Truly amazing video, in the future can you possibly do one on the extinct madagascan elephant birds

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Thank you! I can most certainly do one at some point.

[@xerosereify]

I love Takehe. I remember one day I was running a trap line in Tāwharanui, ages away from any of the marked tracks, when I hear a massive amount of crashing in the undergrowth coming up behind me. I fully freaked out thinking a human was stalking me in the middle of nowhere- but when I turned around it was just a big blue chonker coming to see what I was up to. Takahe really do make alot of noise for their size.....

[@visi7754]

Awesome! Plus nice to know something is not Extinct. Smiles - My bloodline goes Extinct with me. Cheers Xxx

[@exomake_mehorololo]

That's a pretty awesome bird! Beautiful colours. Never heard about them

[@vix6204]

I love living in new Zealand and also going to mount Bruce because I live close to the sanctuary

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Must be a great place to live!

[@vix6204]

@@HenrythePaleoGuy it is

[@monkeypie8701]

theyre so cute

[@baratheda777]

I went to NZ as a teen for a family trip, specifically so I could see my favorite birds. The Takahe was #2 after a bird that most people have heard of. A popular bird Kiwi's named themselves after. Any guesses? Got see a few Takahe at a reserve in Fjordland. They were so fascinating and looked ancient. Got to see Kea, Kaka and a tuatara too

[@GeorgeTheDinoGuy]

This is still one of my favourite videos!

[@monkeypie8701]

My favorite animal

[@stevencross3572]

Very prehistoric looking

[@recessif6097]

amazing video as always Keep up with the great quality!

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Thank you, I most certainly will.

[@TunaFreeDolphinMeat]

Great story-telling and visuals.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Thank you!

[@clivescott5448]

Well worth the wait Henry!

[@NORTH02]

Great video mate, I was wondering you wanted to collab soon. I get it if your busy but I always available!

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Thank you. And we most definitely can at some point. :)

[@NORTH02]

Henry the PaleoGuy thanks may the KZbin algorithm be in your favor😂

[@alliejr]

Whenever someone doubts bird-dinosaur link... see this bird.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

You can even see a claw visible at 1:55.

[@pocketpicker6613]

That head shield straight up gives me crylophosaurus vibes

[@minted1841]

Another great NZ bird. Well done.

[@Nyctophora]

Thank you!

[@bloodandempire]

I love it. It's so cute!! Thanks for the interesting video. 🐦

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Glad you enjoyed! :)

[@alioramus1637]

Make a video about sexual display in Protoceratops Andrewsi. There is an interesting paper about it.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Will put that topic down for a future video. :)

[@alioramus1637]

@@HenrythePaleoGuy That made my day pal :)

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

No problem! :)

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Also, could you link the particular paper?

[@alioramus1637]

@@HenrythePaleoGuy palaeo-electronica.org/content/2016/1369-sexual-selection-in-ceratopsia

[@BackToBackJames]

I love your series!

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Thank you!

[@Mydarkarts23]

Wow that so great that the bird was thought extinct turns out to be not extinct that so awesome the bird species is will taking care. Great video Henry.

[@jenniferofholliston5426]

I love to hear if species that seem to have escaped extinction.

[@jokensy101]

Good for you, Takahe. Now, I'm waiting for the day we'll discover a few living Dodos in Mauritius (which I know is very unlikely but, who knows) 😏

[@geoffreystuttle8080]

Like other giant, flightless birds such as the Emu, I hope that when they weren't flightless they were at least 'poop-less'.

[@oliverwilson11]

Their flying ancestors (swamphens) are quite a lot smaller. They likely became flightless and then got big, rather than the reverse.

[@geoffreystuttle8080]

@@oliverwilson11 Mercifully, yes.

[@daddypapi5421]

I have chickens and this bird amazed me will the public ever be able to sell birds like this?

[@monkeypie8701]

11:05 Better quality than and bigfoot sighting

[@MarshyMallowiscool]

Can the moho come back from extinction? Please Reply

[@libyfamalia3213]

What does it mean if a takahe is in your backyard?

[@geoffreystuttle8080]

Funny how feathers are actually something like 'hairs with hair'.

[@elsebas6]

ES MUY IMPORTANTE LA PROTECCIÓN DE LAS AVES EN PELIGRO DE EXTINCIÓN. YA QUE MANEJO UN PROYECTO PARA LA PROTECCIÓN DE LAS AVES RATIDAS,(MISIÓN RATIDAS)

[@j-the-researcher8453]

1:57 these birds look just like a scary dinosaurs Oh ya that's right they are dinosaurs😂

[@mrs.schmenkman]

These would make a superb domestic pet. That alone could save them if they could get the numbers up.

[@fuckyshityfuckshit]

Wow thought it was going to be a pukeko

[@meandmymoterbike12]

Tiny cassowary

[@magnuspeacock5857]

Tiny?

[@alexbonham3797]

Watching these videos while i save money to move to new Zealand so I can live in a country with all these beautiful birds and also maybe find a wife there ;p

[@krankarvolund7771]

Did Sir Richard Owen described every bird of New Zealand? XD

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Quite a lot of the extinct ones.

[@alexanderwillis9473]

But what does it taste like. Should we be farming them as an alternative to chicken ?

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

They were described as very tasty, but due to their numbers and cultural recognition, that would not happen nowadays.

[@yatusabesnetaquesabe679]

Esta ave parece realmente fascinante tiene cara de matón me recuerda a la kookaburra

[@SCR_ProductionsYT]

so you are from New Zealand?

[@LeaniStar]

Please do Hihi next ❤️❤️❤️

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Soon enough!

[@ianison9820]

Presumably, they could eat water chestnuts at a pinch.

[@splatonk]

New Zealand: Breath of the Wild

[@richa16x]

Hmm not the Botw I expected. xD

[@gregwaghorn9717]

It lives in Australia as well

[@eybaza6018]

No, no birds from New Zealand made it into Australia in the last few million years.

[@stephengibbs4372]

Yeah mate it bought the pavlova recipe over

[@lurkhan]

9 predators dislike this video

[@thetwelfth9987]

You remind me of Ben from 7DOS

[@shrinenz]

Tui

[@user-mf1ye8oj4t]

Pukakas

[@endor8witch]

reminds me of the dodo

[@frankieubel9348]

Who the fuck are the two people that don't like this?? 🤷‍♂️

[@thecristal4312]

They look like moa

[@rahowherox1177]

Ta(h) ka(h) he(h)

[@goognamgoognw6637]

Are you trying to sound like a synthesized voice ? Or are you a robot ?

[@DanWheeler9000]

I have the urge to go hunting.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

🥶

[@DrWoodyII]

Fu*kn dinosaurs.

[@gillianflynn9170]

cHurD chonk+burd= ChuRD

[@oliverwilson11]

I don't think that's the Māori (i.e. correct) pronunciation of takahē but I don't speak Māori and I'm not Māori so I'm not sure

[@RileyRivalle2]

Take a sip each time he says "tar-kuh-hay".

[@rahowherox1177]

Correct, its somewhat like tah kah heh

[@dontmindmyname1234]

Lol

[@dougthedonkey1805]

Peter Griffin bird

[@mrs.schmenkman]

The images of those many of those adult birds are concerning me because they look unhealthy. I hope they are learning more about their diet.

[@markdelattre3832]

A video of pictures is not a video.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Not how that works.

[@gg-gn3re]

videos are literally just sequences of images, lmao

[@lethalweaboo8662]

Came here expecting Legend of Zelda.

[@normienee6661]

nice april fools joke everyone simply know that new zealand doesn't exist

[@dontmindmyname1234]

New Zealand exists, now stop being an idiot, I have been to New Zealand and the fauna there is georgous