Takahē – conservation and ecology
Takahē are the rock stars of conservation science. These resources support NZC Living World ecology levels 2 and 3:
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how living things are suited to their particular habitat
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how they respond to environmental changes.
Takahe are flightless birds and have adaptations that allow them to live in their isolated alpine habitat - big legs and bodies, strong beaks to strip the tussock grasses.
They have struggled with environmental change. Human and introduced predators reduced their habitats and population numbers. Scientists have had to try many different approaches when introducing them to new habitats.
In 2018, a new wild population was successfully established.
Use the resources to help with background knowledge. There are excellent images within the resources for use in class discussions or for observation purposes. The resources include glossary links to highlight key content vocabulary.
There are notes below each resource on this page. The notes list the big science ideas covered in each article.
The notes for the other resources explain how each resource can be used to help with planning and student understanding.
The takahē’s ecological niche
Big ideas in science:
- habitat
- adaptation
- food webs
- competition for resources
- animal behaviour
- response to environmental change
Takahē conservation efforts
Big ideas in science:
- habitat
- food webs
- animal behaviour
- response to environmental change
Threats to takahē
Big ideas in science:
- habitat
- food webs
- competition for resources
- animal behaviour
- response to environmental change
Native bird adaptations
Big ideas in science:
- adaptation
- evolution
- animal behaviour
- response to environmental change
Protecting New Zealand’s treasures
Big ideas in science:
- habitat and habitat loss
- competition for resources
Ethics and bird conservation – case study
This case study is a model of how teachers can tie many of the big science ideas together in a meaningful activity that supports the NOS Participating and contributing strand and the science capability Engage with science.
Ethics in bird conservation
Students examine the conservation of native birds from a range of different value perspectives.
Planning pathways using takahē resources
Use this interactive to find additional resources on some of the big science ideas.
Takahē – a context for learning
Get more planning/resource ideas in this article.