At the top of the food chain, fearless and territorial, raptors seem unlikely candidates in need of sanctuary. However, there are estimated to be only 4,000 pairs of New Zealand native falcons surviving in the wild. Sick, injured and orphaned birds of prey are brought to Wingspan to be nursed back to health with the aim of eventual return to the wild.
Wingspan Birds of Prey Centre – a Bird Sanctuary in Rotorua, New Zealand
Although New Zealand’s native raptors have been fully protected since 1970, “People still shoot them,” says Wingspan staff member, Noel Hyde. Birds are brought into the sanctuary from all over the country suffering from injuries inflicted by humans, feral cats, machinery, electric fences, power lines, and a host of other causes.
When wing or tail feathers snap off Wingspan manager Debbie Stewart repairs them by inserting feathers from dead raptors that have been donated to the centre. The feathers are fixed into place with ‘super glue’. Ozzie, a hand-reared falcon named after Ozzie Osbourne because of his recklessness, has had a total tail refit. A demonstration with a chunk of meat whipped around on a baited line shows that his fake feathers are no impediment to his hunting prowess.
Falcons are the fastest flying birds in the world. “Peregrine falcons for instance can reach speeds of up to 240 kilometres per hour,” Debbie explains. Because of the time, trust and patience involved in training, each person is assigned his or her own bird to rehabilitate. Birds who are too seriously hurt to survive in the wild become part of Wingspan’s captive breeding programmes.
Falcons are Conservationists, Providing Bird Control in NZ Vineyards
Andrew Thomas, another member of the Wingspan crew, exercises a female native falcon called Atareta. “They have incredible eyesight, eight times more powerful than humans. We’ve seen one sight and kill a mouse that had been hiding in the long grass over four hundred metres away. Rabbits and domesticated pigeon meat are their favourite foods,” says Andrew, adding that falcons are natural conservationists. A number have been released near Marlborough wineries in the South Island to control the birds that feast on ripening grapes.
Falcons may seem friendly, perching on the leather-gloved hands of visitors, taking morsels of pigeon food doled out by trainers. But falcons are inherently solitary creatures. “Don’t be fooled into thinking they love me, or anyone else. It’s all about food for them,” Noel Hyde warns.
Wingspan is also home to Whisper the teenage morepork (native New Zealand owl) who was brought into the centre and hatched in the resident incubator. Another famous aviary dweller is an Australian barn owl called Tahi who blew across the Tasman in 2009. Her damaged wing means she will be unable to fly in the wild again but there are hopes of importing a mate for her within the following two years.
Wingspan Birds of Prey Centre is a Charitable Trust
Wingspan Birds of Prey Centre in Paradise Valley Road Rotorua, is a charitable trust, relying on admissions, shop sales, donations and sponsorship to continue the trust’s conservation work. The Centre has won numerous conservation and environment awards. Its superb website is also an award-winning venture. Wingspan is approximately two-and-half hours from Auckland and just ten minutes from the Rotorua CBD. Flying displays begin at 2:00pm. Arriving at 1:30pm will allow time to explore the fascinating examples of taxidermy and falconry equipment in the museum, and to check out the bird posters, books and paintings for sale at the retail store. Visit the website for detailed directions and rates.
With special thanks to Janet Keen for photographs and information supplied.
Lyn Rasmussen - Lyn is a New Zealander who lives in the centre of New Zealand's Volcanic Wonderland. She has been recognised for her writing across ...
