Watching this makes all the hard work worthwhile…..This White Faced Grey Heron was found in the Panmure Basin early January where it was blown into the corner of the boat ramp amongst the floatsum. It was very weak and not standing, its feet were curled up and it look like it was about to die!! After some tender love and care from Lyn and our volunteers it has made a full recovery….look at it now rearing to go!
Pheasant Chicks
By on August 24, 2011 in News Archive
These Pheasant chicks had their nest disturbed by a weed eater.
On arrival at Bird Rescue Green Bay these 8 chicks were lying flat and were very cold, along with two eggs they were placed under lights to warm up.
Miraculously one of the eggs started to hatch and Lyn assisted by picking off the outer layer of shell, while leaving the membrane intact – the chick made its way into the world and was wobbly and sticky. We assisted by drying and fluffing it and placed it with it’s siblings. The second egg did not hatch. A day or so later another Pheasant chick was delivered to Bird Rescue, but was so cold that unfortunately it died.
Shortly later another chick, which was found on Phia Road came in, it was lucky to be found and brought in straight away. It gained strength overnight and was placed in with the other pheasant chicks where it fitted in well, there are now 10 in total and they are doing great.
Initially warmth is more important than food for all chicks. You can keep them warm using a hot water bottle, wheat bag, milk bottle filled with hot tap water or under a 20 watt light bulb.
Weka
By on August 24, 2011 in Birds
The weka has four subspecies living in New Zealand, the North Island Weka, the Western Weka (found in north-west Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast), the Stewart Island Weka and the Buff Weka (mainly found in the Chatham Islands). The scientific name is Gallirallus australis. They belong to the rail family. Interestingly early New Zealand settlers called the weka “woodhen”. Another interesting fact is that like New Zealanders are called Kiwi’s, Chatham Islanders are referred to as Weka!
Weka are flightless, large brown birds – over 50cm long. They have brown plumage streaked with black (the shade of brown varies depending on which subspecies they are and ranges from pale to dark brown). They have a reduced wingspan, sturdy legs and a strong tapered bill. The male weighs around 1kg and females about 700gm. The best-known call of the weka is a loud repetitive “coo-et” which is heard at dusk and in the early evening. Male and female usually perform this as a duet with the male making the lower, slower part. They are more often heard than seen and the best time to hear a weka call is at dusk. They commonly live deep in the forest or on the margins near farmlands where they have a reputation for pilfering crops, food and other items. They will take the objects to the nearest cover to investigate them. Therefore, it is best not to chase a weka but to simply watch to see where the weka goes and retrieve the objects later on.
Weka feast on a variety of food – about 30% of their diet is made up of animal food including earthworms, larvae, beetles, weta, grass grubs, ants, slugs, snails, insect eggs, slaters, spiders, rats, mice, frogs, small birds and eggs. The remaining 70% consists of plants including grass, leaves, berries and seeds. Weka perform the important task of rejuvenating bush by distributing seeds, including many that are too large to be spread by smaller berry-eating birds.
Sadly weka numbers are on the decline and they are killed or injured by cats, dogs, ferrets and stoats. Disease and drought are also a contributing factor, as well as road kill and loss of habitat. Human predation is another important factor in their demise.
Breeding: Weka mate for life. The breeding season varies, but when food is plentiful weka can raise up to four broods throughout the whole year. They build nests on the ground under the cover of thick vegetation using grass or similar materials to form a bowl shaped nest. Generally female weka lay three creamy or pinkish eggs blotched with brown or mauve. Both parents incubate the eggs and after a month the chicks hatch. Feeding the chicks is the responsibility of both parents and they do this until the chicks are fully-grown at between six and ten weeks.
Are weka ever brought to New Zealand Bird Rescue?
We rarely get this intriguing bird at Bird Rescue due to the fact that they are not found in the Auckland Metropolitan area. In fact the North Island weka is only found in three places on the North Island Mainland, around east cape and Opotiki, in the Russell area of Northland and inexplicably, at Kawakawa Bay, just 50km from downtown Auckland.
A land care group has been set up called WekaWatch Kawakawa Bay, and it has the following aims.
1. To educate the public about the weka and their rarity value
2. To monitor the status of the weka population
3. To undertake predator control in a core area to protect the population
4. To access funds to help them achieve these aims
The weka at Kawakawa Bay are getting used to humans. If you drive the coast road to the east of the boat ramp and are patient you may well see one or more of them on the side roads or at the road end, but please keep your dogs on a lead or leave them at home. An out of control dog is one of the greatest threats to their weka.
Two weka have been taken to Bird Rescue over the last 6 years. The first was unable to be helped as it had a broken leg. The second was cared for for 3 days and then returned to the same place where it had been found where its mate was waiting for it.
You can contact WekaWatch by emailing wekawatch@paradise.net.nz or on phone (09) 292 2512.
Rescue Tips:
If you find a sick, injured or orphaned weka it is best to get it to your nearest rescue centre as soon as possible.
It is important to provide warmth and extremely important to note the location the weka was found.
More information on rescuing a bird can be obtained from Rescuing a Bird
Kingfisher
By on August 24, 2011 in Birds
There is only one type of Kingfisher in New Zealand which is a sub-species of the Sacred Kingfisher found in Australia. The scientific name is Halycon sancta vagans and the Maori name is kōtare.
This very striking bird is iridescent blue-green on the head and upper parts with yellowish buff under parts, with a creamy white collar around the neck and a buff coloured eye stripe that starts at the disproportionately heft bill and continues above the eye. The kingfisher is very top heavy with a large head and shoulders that look more exaggerated because they often sit with their neck short and hunched. Both sexes are alike at approximately 24cm and 65gm. Young Kingfishers are more tan coloured and do not have the blue-green adult plumage.
Kingfishers can be found in all areas but are more commonly found in freshwater or coastal wetlands, forest edges or farmland. They have an insistent ‘kek-kek-kek’ which can be heard as they sit on high perches above tidal flats or pastures. During the breeding season a “kree kree” call is heard. They are very fearless and aggressive birds, attacking other birds and mammals.
The Kingfisher’s diet varies greatly depending on where they live, but can consist of fish, tadpoles, crabs, freshwater crayfish, earthworms, cicadas, dragonflies, lizards, mice and small birds. When they detect prey they dart down to snatch it before returning to their perch where they kill it by repeatedly thwacking it against a branch.
Breeding: Kingfishers use their strong dagger-like bills to build nests in soft tree trunks or steep clay banks. Both parents take turns at repeatedly flying at the wood or bank with their bills outstretched, delivering “chisel” blows until a hole is deep enough to perch in. They then sit on the lip and excavate an upward sloping tunnel about 20cm long before hollowing out a nesting chamber. Sometimes they make several tunnels before deciding on one. The nest will generally be used year after year. The female lays 4-5 (sometimes 6) smooth, polished, pure white eggs. The female does most of the brooding (for 3 weeks) while the male provides the food. The chicks fledge at about 4 weeks, but for several weeks after leaving the nest the family stays together.
Why Kingfishers are brought to New Zealand Bird Rescue
Kingfishers often fly into windows and are caught by cats. During breeding season we get kingfisher chicks who have been orphaned or caught by cats.
Rescue Tips:
If you find a sick, injured or orphaned Kingfisher it is best to get it to your nearest rescue centre as soon as possible.
It is important to provide heat and extremely important to note the location the Kingfisher was found.
More information on rescuing a bird can be obtained from Rescuing a Bird
Fantail
By on August 24, 2011 in Birds
Although part of the Rhipiduridae family with variations of fantails all over the world, the fantail found throughout New Zealand is a native to us. The scientific name is Rhipidura fuliginosa and the Maori name is Pīwakawaka.
This fantail is mid-dark grey or grey-brown on the upper half of its body and yellowish-orange below and has a white throat, white markings above the eye, and either white-edged or entirely white outer tail feathers. It grows to 16 centimetres in length, of which half is the tail!! As indicated by it’s name the tail is a gorgeous fan which is often displayed fanned out. A variation is the “Black Fantail” which has darker plumage and makes up at 25% of South Island Birds and 1% of those found in the North Island.
This small, adorable bird is a favourite of most New Zealanders and is not shy, often flittering within a few meters of people – in search of small flying insects that may have been disturbed by human activity. When awake the Fantail is almost never still, flittering from twig to twig throughout the trees. They have a friendly cheet cheet call. They have a relatively short lifespan and although they stay in pairs all year, due to high mortality, they seldom survive more than one season.
Fantails feed on insects and their main prey are flies, spiders, wasps, moths and beetles. They sometimes eat fruit. They use their broad tails to change direction quickly while hunting for insects.
Breeding: The Fantail is a seasonal breeder, nesting from August to March in the North Island and September to January in the South Island. They can breed as many as five times in one season. Both parents build a compact, cup-shaped nest made out of moss, fibre and bark which is often bound together with spiders web. These are usually built in the forks of trees usually in the forks of trees. Two to five cream eggs, spotted with grey and brown are laid and are incubated for a period of around two weeks with the chicks fledging at 13 days. Both parents share incubation and feeding duites (the young are fed about every 10 minutes – that’s 100 times a day!!). Nest building and incubation of the second brood may occur while the fledged young of the first brood are still being fed and in this case the male takes over the feeding of the first brood. Young males may begin breeding two months after fledging.
Cats, rats and stoats are a great threat to fantails – “stealing” eggs from the nest. However, the fantails’ success in breeding is due to their ability to produce lots of young, hence some chicks escaping predatation.
Why fantails are brought to New Zealand Bird Rescue: Sometimes fantails are picked up off the road and brought to us, occasionally they survive a cat attack. Of particular danger to the fantails is the Parapara tree, which emits a sticky substance and ensnares the fantail. For more information on the dangers of the Parapara tree have a look at our dangers page.
Rescue Tips:
If you find a sick or injured adult fantail try warming it up by placing it in a small box with a hottie, after half an hour try it in a bedroom with the curtains pulled to see if it will fly. If it can fly it is best to release it straight away, otherwise bring it to a centre. The exception to this is if the fantail is covered in parapara sticky pods. Nestlings should be brought straight into us if you are not able to put the nest back into the same place it came from.
It is important to provide heat and extremely important to note the location the fantail was found.
More information on rescuing a bird can be obtained from Rescuing a Bird
Silvereye
By on August 24, 2011 in Birds
The Silvereye is found throughout New Zealand as well as Australia, and some of the southwest Pacific Islands including Fiji. The scientific name is Zosterops lateralis and it also called Wax-eye or White-eye. Its Maori name is Tauhou, which means “little stranger”. The Silvereye was first recorded in New Zealand in 1832, however, arrived in greater numbers in 1856.
The Silvereye is an olive green bird with distinctive white rings around the eye. They have a whitish-grey underbelly and grey on part of their wings. Of note nestlings don’t have the white rings around their eyes. They have an average size of 11cm.
Silvereyes are predominantly found in wooded habitat, particularly urban parks and gardens. They are found alone, in pairs or in small groups during the breeding season, but in winter months form larger flocks.
They feast on large amounts of fruit and nectar, but also enjoy insects. They have a long brush-like tongue, which allows them access to nectar.
Breeding: Silvereyes breed in the spring and early summer (mainly between September and December). When paired they show great affection for each other – stroking and preening one another’s feathers and cuddling together. Their nest consists of a tiny cup of finely woven grass, moss, hair and other vegetation bound with spiderweb and are suspended from a small tree or shrub. They lay 2 to 4 small pale blue eggs. During the breeding season two broods may be raised.
Huang Wu, a Unitec lecturer and keen photographer noticed little Silvereye parents going to and from the tree outside her house, and decided to look for a nest. Despite the efforts of the strongly territorial mother bird fluttering her wings aggressively, she managed to return daily to watch the progress of the soon-to-be-born chicks. These photos are the result. (Note: each egg is no bigger than a fingernail).
Why Silvereyes are brought to New Zealand Bird Rescue
Silvereyes are brought to us for a variety of reasons including cat or dog attacks and we get lots of orphans – as the nest is very small cats frequently carry the whole nest indoors. Of particular danger to the Silvereye is the Parapara tree, which emits a sticky substance and ensnares the Silvereye. We had one branch brought in with 30 Silvereyes entangled in the sticky pods. For more information on the dangers of the Parapara tree have a look at our dangers page.
Rescue Tips:
If you find a sick, injured or orphaned Silvereye it is best to get it to your nearest rescue centre as soon as possible.
It is important to provide heat and extremely important to note the location the Silvereye was found.
More information on rescuing a bird can be obtained from Rescuing a Bird
Kereru
By on August 24, 2011 in Birds
The Kereru is a native of New Zealand and is New Zealand’s only endemic pigeon. It also goes by the names of Native Woodpigeon, Kukupa, or Kuku. The Kereru are a gorgeous iridescent metallic green and purple colour with a bronze tinge. The breast and belly are white. The eyes, eye rings, beak and feet are a dark crimson.
Kereru make occasional soft coo sounds. Their wings make a very distinctive “whooshing” sound as they fly. In flight they will ascend slowly before making impressively steep parabolic dives which are thought to be associated with nesting, or nest failure.
The Kereru predominately eat fruit from native trees. Although fruit is the major part of their diet they also enjoy leaves and buds and at certain times of year, when fruit is scarce leaves comprise most of their diet. They are frequently found in the Kowhai trees as this is one of their favourites. Often their crops are so full of berries they have difficulty taking off as they are too heavy, this leaves them exposed to predators.
With the extinction of the Moa and the Huia the Kereru are now the only bird capable of ingesting the large fruit and berries of New Zealand’s native trees and dispersing their seeds. Kereru are found most in the lowland forests of the North, South and Stewart Islands. Numbers have been gradually decreasing with loss of habitat. The biggest threat to Kereru are predatory mammals and the Kereru is vulnerable to predators such as stoats and cats when feeding near or at ground level. Nest failure is a big problem with eggs and nestlings being easy prey for rats, possums, stoats, weasel and ferrets.
Breeding: The Kereru breeds in the spring and early summer. Aerial displays by both sexes, particularly the male are signs of mating. The Kereru nests are an interesting flimsy platform of a single layer of twigs with the contents of the nest being seen from the ground. The female lays a single egg which is very long, narrow and white. Both adults share the responsibility of caring for the egg during the 28 day incubation period, the hen through the night and in the morning and the male midday till evening. New chicks “squabs” require feeding at least 2-3 times a day. The parents feed them crop milk, which is regurgitated food. The chicks fledge from the nest anywhere between 30 and 45 days. In seasons when fruit is plentiful the Kereru can successfully nest up to four times. Interestingly, the young stay with their parents for up to two years, this is so the parents can teach them skills to cope in the wild, including which trees in the area to go to when food is scarce.
Why Kereru are brought to New Zealand Bird Rescue
The main reasons Kereru are brought to us are because they have hit windows or been hit by a car. It is the young Kereru that tend to be brought in.
Rescue Tips:
If you find a sick, injured or orphaned Kereru it is best to get it to your nearest rescue centre as soon as possible. To catch a Kereru throw a towel over it, scoop it up in the towel and put both the bird and the towel in the box. We will give you your towel back.
It is important to provide heat and extremely important to note the location the Kereru was found.
More information on rescuing a bird can be obtained from Rescuing a Bird
All pictures on this page taken by Brian Thomas
New Zealand Tui
By on August 24, 2011 in Birds
The Tui is a native of New Zealand. They are widely identified by the prominent white tuft at the throat. Tui are predominantly black with metallic blue green tinges throughout their feathers and a white patch on their wings. The female is somewhat smaller than the male. The name comes from the Maori language and the plural is simply Tui. They used to be referred to as the Parson Bird, but they are now commonly known as Tui.
Tui have distinctive and beautiful croaking, gurgling melodies, which can be heard echoing around New Zealand. Tui also sing at night, especially in the full moon period. They have the ability to imitate human speech. Their diet is mainly nectar (New Zealand Flax being their favourite!) but they also frequently feed on fruit and insects and occasionally pollen and seeds. Tui are considered to be extremely intelligent birds and are very territorial.
Breeding: Between September and October courting takes place, with Tui singing high up in the trees in the early morning and late afternoon. A sign of breeding is display dives, this is when the bird flies up in an arch and then dives vertically at speed. Nests are made from twigs, fine grasses and moss. It is the female who builds the nest, but both parents take on the responsibility of feeding the young. Between October and January Tui lay 3-4 eggs, which are pinkish with reddy/brown spots. In young Tui the plumage is soft and fluffy and lacks the metallic lustre of the fully-grown Tui. Fledglings develop the throat tuft within a month, but it is a further 6 weeks before they start to develop metallic tinges.
Why Tui are bought to New Zealand Bird Rescue
We get a lot of Tui brought to our centres. In the spring we receive chicks and juveniles, which have fallen out of nests, been orphaned or caught by cats. Tui babies are often mistaken for Myna babies so it is important that they are bought to a centre so that they can be identified for what they are – their diet is very different from a Myna chick. We also receive a lot of adult Tui which have flown into windows, been caught by cats, caught in Parapara Trees, which results in them being covered with seedpods and a very sticky substance or having been involved in fights (as Tui are very territorial they can get into aggressive fights – in some instances we have received reports of them fighting to the death).
Rescue Tips:
If you find a sick or injured Tui it is best to get it to your nearest rescue centre as soon as possible.
- Pick up the Tui using a towel, this protects you from the sharp claws and protects the bird’s feathers.
- Generally most birds need a hot water bottle filled with hot tap water to keep them warm.
- It is very important to notify the rescue centre of where the Tui was found, this is because they are territorial and it is extremely important to return them back to where they were found.
More information on rescuing a bird can be obtained from Rescuing a Bird
Photos taken by Brian Thomas at Karekare Beach, Auckland
Pukeko
By on August 24, 2011 in Birds
The Pukeko is one of New Zealand’s most recognised birds to locals and tourists alike. Their startling colours stand out against New Zealand’s greenery and they are truly a beautiful and magnificent bird. The Pukeko is deep blue with black head, wings and back are black with a greenish tinge, under tail is pure white and flicks as they walk, bill and shield are scarlet, eyes red and feet and legs orange-red. Although their large feet are not webbed, they are good swimmers and swift runners. They prefer this mode of travel when escaping harm, but can fly short distances although having an ungraceful take off and are awkward flyers, flying with their legs dangling. They often crash land into trees or scrub. The only slight difference between the sexes is that the male is slightly larger than the female. Their usual call is a loud unmusical screech but they also have a subdued musical ‘tuk–tuk’
The Pukeko is a native of New Zealand, and is also referred to as the Swamp Hen. It is a member of the rail family along with the Takahe, Weka, Banded Rail, Spotless Crake and Marsh Crake. It is similar to other species from this family found all over the world. They can be found in almost any grassland area, mainly in swampy locations and are often spotted foraging for food on the roadside. Seldom do they move habitat unless forced by food shortages or changing water levels.
Their diet consists of soft parts of aquatic vegetation, grasses, clover, berries, and seeds. They also eat insects, worms, frogs, eels and occasionally small birds and eggs. They use their feet to feed, by holding the food in their claw and taking it up to their beak.
Breeding: Breeding is mainly between August and March but peak activity is from September to December. The nests are well hidden and are a deep bowl of woven marsh vegetation. It is common for a nest to be shared by two or more hens. Each female lays 4–6 buff-coloured eggs blotched with brown. The incubation of about four weeks is shared by both sexes. All birds, including non-breeding helpers (offspring from previous broods) help in feeding and caring for the chicks.
Why Pukeko are bought to New Zealand Bird Rescue
With the destruction of their habitat, the Pukeko has relocated itself to roadsides. Almost without exception adult Pukeko are bought in after having been hit by a car. This also leads to orphaned chicks.
Rescue Tips:
If you find a sick or injured Pukeko it is best to get it to your nearest rescue centre as soon as possible.
- Pick up the Pukeko using a towel, this protects you from the sharp claws and strong beak and also protects the bird’s feathers.
- Generally most birds need a hot water bottle filled with hot tap water to keep them warm.
- It is very important to notify the rescue centre of where the Pukeko was found, this is because they are territorial and it is extremely important to return them back to where they were found.
More information on rescuing a bird can be obtained from Rescuing a Bird
All photos on this page taken by Brian Thomas
Mallard Duck
By on August 24, 2011 in Birds
The female Mallard (hen) is mottled dark brown, buff and white all over with the face being paler than the body, there is distinctive black line going through the eye. The belly is pale and the tail whitish. The bill is yellow or orange with variable splotches of black and the legs are orangy-red. In contrast to the rather drab female, the breeding male (drake) is easily distinguished by its iridescent dark green head, rusty chest, white neck ring, grey body, blue band across the wing (bordered with black), black tail and undertail, yellowish orange bill tipped with black and orange-red legs and feet.
The Mallard Duck is not native to New Zealand but is our most common duck. They can also be found in areas of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. In other countries they are also known as the dabbling duck. The females give a large series of quacks while the male communicates by a soft rasping “rab”, and also grunts and whistles. Mallards can be found near almost any waterway but are commonly found in parks and ponds. They can often be seen head dipping or completely upending in the water in search of food. They feed on invertebrates, fish, amphibians and a variety of plants. On land they also graze on grains and plants. It is a common pastime for children to feed ducks bread, it is important, however, that they are fed on land and not in the water, the reason for this is that bread creates build up of excess toxins in the water which causes botulism (food poisoning) and untreated this is potentially fatal.
Breeding: In the spring the females build down lined nests on the ground in dense vegetation. The Mallard couple only until the female lays the eggs. 8-13 eggs are usually laid and these are incubated for 27-28 days. Ducklings can swim and feed themselves insects as soon as they are born, they leave the nest soon after hatching, but stay near their mother for protection, warmth and education on how to cope in the wild. They can fly 46-60 days after hatching.
Why Mallards are brought to New Zealand Bird Rescue
There are lots of different reasons Mallards are brought to our centres:
- Hit by car
- Poisoning
- Botulism
- Entanglement – such as nylon, cotton or tape wrapped around their legs, plastic bottle rings caught around their neck or beak
- Orphaned – Mothers frequently “plant” their chicks and go off to find themselves extra food, when they come back to their young, they call to their chicks who come running to their mother. Be careful you are not “stealing” chicks from their mother before she returns.
- Cat attacks on ducklings
Rescue Tips:
If you find a sick, injured or orphaned duck(ling) it is best to get it to your nearest rescue centre as soon as possible.
It is important to provide heat, especially for ducklings. It is important to notify the centre where the duck came from, by releasing ducks back into the same territory we try to keep the genetic pool right.
More information on rescuing a bird can be obtained from Rescuing a Bird
All photos on this page taken by Brian Thomas