Murchison Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murchison Mountains |
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A view of the Murchison Mountains from Te Anau
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mt Lyall |
| Elevation | 1,892 m (6,207 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Location in New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Range coordinates | 45°12′03″S 167°25′49″E / 45.20086°S 167.43017°E |
| Topo map | GNS Science |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Mountain Range |
The Murchison Mountains are a special group of mountains. You can find them in Fiordland National Park in New Zealand. These mountains are famous for a very important reason. In 1948, the takahē bird was found here. People thought this bird was extinct, meaning it had died out completely. The highest point in this range is Mount Lyall, which stands at 1,892 metres (6,207 ft) tall.
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Discovering the Murchison Mountains
The Murchison Mountains are a beautiful and wild place. They are part of the larger Fiordland National Park. This park is known for its stunning landscapes. It has deep fiords, tall mountains, and thick forests. The Murchison Mountains are a key part of this natural wonder.
Home to Unique Wildlife
The Murchison Mountains are a safe home for many native animals. Many special birds live here. These include the takahē, mohua, and whio. You can also find kea, kaka, and kakariki. Other birds like the New Zealand falcon and weka also call this place home. Smaller birds like the rock wren, tomtit, and tui thrive here. The bellbird, fantail, and rifleman are also common. You might even spot a kiwi if you are lucky!
The Amazing Takahē Rediscovery
The story of the takahē is one of the most exciting. This large bird belongs to the rail family. For many years, people thought it was gone forever. But in 1948, something amazing happened. Unfamiliar bird footprints were found in the Murchison Mountains.
A doctor named Geoffrey Orbell from Invercargill heard about this. He decided to lead a trip to find the unknown bird. His team successfully found the takahē! This discovery was a huge deal. It showed that the bird was still alive.
After this, a large area of 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi) was set aside. This land was for protecting the takahē. To this day, the Murchison Mountains are the only place where you can see wild takahē. This conservation effort is the longest running one in New Zealand. It helps keep these special birds safe.
Protecting Our Native Birds
Protecting the birds in the Murchison Mountains is very important. The New Zealand Department of Conservation works hard to do this. In 2002, they started a program to control stoats. Stoats are predators that hunt native birds.
Sometimes, stoat numbers can increase a lot. This happened in 2007. There was a big "mast seeding" event. This means many beech trees and tussock plants produced lots of seeds. This led to more food for stoats, so their population grew. As a result, the takahē population was cut in half. This shows how important it is to manage predators.
Another animal that affects the area is the red deer. Their numbers grew steadily between 1930 and 1973. But hunting, both on foot and by helicopter, helped reduce them. Between 1973 and 1975, the deer population dropped by 60%. This helps protect the plants that native animals rely on.
Other Special Animals and Plants
Besides the takahē, other unique species live here. A study in 2007 looked at the rock wren population. It found that their numbers had dropped by 44% in 20 years. This was compared to a study done in 1989. This shows that some native birds still face challenges.
The Murchison Mountains are also home to special plants. In 1953, an expedition from the Canterbury Museum explored the area. During this trip, W. R. Philipson discovered a new type of plant. It belonged to the genus Pachycladon. This new plant was named Pachycladon crenata. This discovery shows that the mountains still hold many secrets.
