In an alarming set of circumstances, the two baby Pūkeko who had been tended to by their huddle of mamas over many weeks appeared missing — only to be discovered just next door.
Their neighbour from up the hill, Jane Pike, said:
“I was tiptoeing past them every day, trying not to seem over the top in my enthusiasm and giving them adequate space. Then Thursday I noticed they had gone. We’d had a massive amount of rain over the weekend, and I’d thought of their little bodies under that deluge, so when I couldn’t see them anymore I feared the worst.
Then, just yesterday, walking up the hill, I noticed the mamas had built a new nest on top of the flax plants, and there they were: two little fluffy babies!
‘YOU ARE SO CLEVER!’ I whistled over the fence, at which one mama looked distinctly unimpressed, did a tiny stomp with her bird trotter, and flapped her wing forcefully, which I took to mean I should move on.”
Jane admitted that she did hide in the bushes for some time after but asked that be kept off the record.
A few fun Pūkeko facts to close:
Pūkeko are communal nesters. Several birds will share the same nest and take turns incubating eggs and feeding chicks as part of the mama clan.
They can swim and dive surprisingly well (those feet are made for paddling as much as stomping). I’ve seen the paddling in the inlet and wondered if I need to call Surf Lifesavers but apparently not.
You’ll often see them lifting food delicately to their mouths with those long red toes. Very dignified dining for a wetland bird.