August News | www.nbr.org.nz

We have been receiving quite a few calls lately about Birds most of them are Sparrows flapping around on the ground like they are having a fit.

The cause of this could be someone close by using something like Pestoff Treated Wheat.

If you find a Bird that looks like it’s in big trouble and flapping around on the ground, place it in something that’s warm, like a hot water cupboard, within 2-3 hours is will be fit enough for release again.

Three weeks ago we had a very tame Pukeko sent to us from Kerikeri, it turned up at a friend’s place and just walked inside his house, as he has dogs he was unable to keep it, just remember, if you make a pet out of any Wild Animal be prepared to keep it and look after it.

It’s sad to see something like the Pook that is no longer wanted, in many cases the owners think that by setting it free at another location will be ok, Wrong, other Pukekos will kill it as it is not part of their clan or chase them away, the poor old Pook has to keep looking for its home.

With the very cold snap and lots of rain many Birds are getting into trouble while looking for food and shelter, if you find a Bird in trouble please contact the Centre so we can look after it.

Our new Surgery at the Centre is just about ready for use, once in use we will be able to carry out many types of test that we have not been able to do in the past and save many other Birds once we know what is wrong with them.

The Kamo Vets and Mill road Vets have been strong supporters of the Centre for many years and we can still call on their help when our Vet is away which could mean that they could use our Surgery if needed.

My skills have helped many Native Birds over the years but when I see Bruce or the other Vets working on the Birds it sure makes me feel pleased to have their support.

We are catching up with some of the maintenance at long last around the Centre while its quite but in a few weeks time we will be starting to get very busy with the Baby Birds.

I saw a mother Duck with 12 ducklings at the Centre so it looks like we could be in for an early start.

Remember, if you find a baby Bird or one that’s been injured please contact the Centre as soon as you can so we can advise you what to do.

Keep an eye out for the next live day at Kiwi North as we will be involved with them on the 11^th September, we will keep you informed as it gets closer.

Robert and Robyn Webb

August 2011 Column.

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Feature Bird

Woof Woof

Woof Woof was our semi-tame Tui, he would sing and if you were patient he would talk back to you too. He would often startle visitors with his very deep male voice -- an exact match for centre manager Robert Webb.

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Snoopy

“Snoopy” our one legged North Island Brown kiwi died on Wednesday 20 June 2007. Snoopy was 15 years old and had lived with Robert and Robyn Webb at their home since he was only 3 months old.

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Sparky

Sparky will now follow in Snoopy’s foot step and take on the role of Kiwi ambassador travelling around schools and other public forums to promote wildlife conservation. Sparky is another one legged kiwi who lives at the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre. He came to the Centre as a young bird in 2002, his leg injury was also caused by a “Gin trap” that had been set on the ground to trap possums.

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Fertile eggs are recovered from the burrows of wild kiwi approximately 45 to 50 days into the 75 day incubation. Incubation, hatching and rearing of the young kiwi is completed in captivity.

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Bitty the Bittern

“The neighbour phoned me to come over and have a look at this strange looking brown and white bird. She said it was trying desperately to get into her chook house!”

Mr & Mrs Gregory rushed next door and immediately recognised the bird as a young Bittern. Bitterns fledge at 7 weeks (approx.), somehow the “teenaged” bird must have got lost and decided that any type of bird was a good bird to hang around with – even the chooks.

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Gone wandering

This bird was found on Ninety Mile Beach by surfcasters on Friday 23 April 2007. The albatross was transferred to a small bird centre in the Far North. The bird was very skinny and they could not get him to eat so they sent him to us at the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre on Monday 26 April 2007. It appeared that the bird had been caught in the recent storm, battling gale force winds from the east and he was absolutely worn out, unable to stand or hold his head up.

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Kotu the white heron

The white heron had flown into the back yard of a family in the Ruakaka area where he ate all the fish in the goldfish pond. The family let him as they were so amazed at having such a beautiful visitor. They could also see that the bird had an injured left foot and was not weight bearing on that leg.

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Little Blue Penguin Moult

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Morepork Chicks Too Hot In The Nest

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