Join our hosts as they discuss what it takes to raise hundreds of native and non-native babies every summer, hear more about our centre, get a peek at the birds in care, see our wish list, and ask questions via the comments!

Event was hosted on Facebook Live https://fb.watch/ox9prY6T9H/

This wonderful funding helped BirdCare Aotearoa to support the community and save the lives of orphaned taonga birds, it is greatly appreciated!

https://www.pubcharitylimited.org.nz/

Our Generosity Generator crowdfunder has now closed. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised over $20,000! This is a huge boost ahead of what we expect to be our busiest ever baby bird season.

Heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who donated, shared our campaign with others, or helped in any other way. We’re absolutely blown away by your generosity.

If you didn’t manage to donate to our crowdfunder, you’re most welcome to make a donation directly through our website.

Join the Protect Our Petrels community to help work towards a safer place for our seabirds.

www.protectourpetrels.com/community-projects

Cook’s petrel/tītī at release site after treatment at BirdCare Aotearoa

Wildlife welfare is now incorporated in the Civil Defence ‘Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS)’. BirdCare Aotearoa recently coordinated a Tabletop exercise to build preparedness for a catastrophic weather event impacting wildlife. 

Delegates from various organisations worked together during a simulated exercise to develop a strategy for coordinating the rescue and appropriate care of wildlife in a large-scale emergency situation. It was a very valuable collaboration of expertise amongst a group of organisations who recognise the importance of wildlife welfare in all situations.

Ngā mihi nui – thank you very much to:

• Auckland Council – Waitākere Ranges Local Board for funding
• Auckland Zoo for the event facility
• NIWA for simulating an adverse weather event for the exercise
• Pauline Nijman from Massey University for presentation of an actual adverse event
• Delegates who represented the following organisations

Ministry for Primary Industries, DOC, Auckland Council Conservation Advisor, Auckland Emergency Management, NZ Defence Force – Auckland, Wildlife Manager Auckland Airport, The University of Auckland, SPCA, WReNNZ, HUHA Trust, Matuku Link, Birds New Zealand, Native Bird Rescue – Waiheke Island, Hamilton Zoo, Auckland Zoo, BirdCare Aotearoa.

Once trapped, birds struggle to fly as their feathers are glued together. As they struggle on the ground, they become covered in leaves and dirt. They are unable to find food, and they are vulnerable to predators. To survive, they need a specialised bath at an experienced rehab centre.

In 2021 so far, we have admitted 7 ruru (morepork) trapped in parapara. Most are released within a few weeks of admission, but may need to stay for several months if they have experienced feather loss.

This ruru was our most severe case. He arrived very skinny, dehydrated, sore, and covered in debris. We suspect he had been grounded for a while.

This ruru required two weeks of stabilisation before he had recovered enough to tolerate a bath. This involved daily fluid therapy, pain management, and tube feeding to slowly restart his digestive system. On day 12, he was bathed for the first time (a second bath was required after a few days).

By day 15, he had recovered from his two baths, and was ready for some exercise in an aviary! The transformation on this little one was incredible.

If you notice a parapara tree in your garden, you can help out the local bird life by trimming the seed pods each season. If you notice any native birds who have become entangled, please bring them to a rehab centre as soon as possible. Don’t pull the pods off, as this can cause damage to feathers.

Thanks so much to everyone who continues to bring us these birds so we can give them a second chance!