09 438 1457
info@nbr.org.nz

Category: Bird Tales

Story of an egg

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.  The kiwi chick inside this egg has pipped the shell. It could take up to  another 24 hrs to hatch. Just breaking out. Of…
Read more

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”…
Read more

Royal Albert the Albatross

On 24 December 2005 a Southern Royal Albatross was picked up from Ripiro Beach near Glinks Gully on the west coast of Northland, New Zealand. The male bird, estimated to be two or three years old was worn out and had a wing injury after battling strong stormy winds.  Robert Webb, Centre Manager, said that…
Read more

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…
Read more

Little Blue Penguin Moult

These 2 Little Blue Penguins were rescued from Wellingtons bay out at the Whangarei Heads. They were found wedged between rocks below the high tide line.  The birds had been chased by a group of Black Backed Gulls and had fallen into the crack between some rocks while trying to get away from the gulls. A member…
Read more

Morepork Chicks Too Hot in the Nest

The 2010 / 2011 chick season has seen quite a number of Morepork chicks come into the Centre.  Robert Webb, Centre Manager, says that the very hot summer conditions are the cause of the problem. Morepork will have between 1 and 4 chicks in a clutch at a time.  During very hot weather the parent…
Read more

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…
Read more

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. Sadly, Woof Woof passed away peacefully on 5th February 2011.  He was 16 years old, as far…
Read more

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…
Read more

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. Snoopys death was a real shock for Robert and Robyn as Snoopy was like a member of their…
Read more