BirdCare Aotearoa

10/08/2026

🖤 Manu Monday: Meet our two very special kāruhiruhi! 🖤

These two arrived at BirdCare back in June, after being rescued from Birkenhead by some awesome members of the Wildlands Consultancy field team.

One of the siblings had become entangled in invasive weeds on the edge of a cliff, and both birds arrived mildly dehydrated and carrying a rather impressive load of lice.

We knew from the beginning that raising them would be a long-term project, and their journey to release has brought plenty of challenges along the way. But with a lot of care, patience and some very dedicated substitute parents, they have continued to grow and thrive.

From these first photos, you might not guess just how far these two have come. 🥹
And this is only the beginning of their story…

Keep an eye on our socials over the coming weeks for updates as we follow these two quirky characters from fluffy, noisey, mess makers, to fully feathered seabirds 🌊

Stay tuned for part two! 👀

24/07/2026

The amazing Titirangi Potters are hosting a fundraiser for our dear friends Titirangi Urban Sanctuary. Come along to the Titirangi Village Market this Sunday 26th July. Support the artists, fundraising for local environmental heroes!

The Titirangi Potters fundraised for BirdCare last year, helping us recover return many kereru, ruru and tui to Titirangi... This year's fundraiser will help Titirangi Urban Sanctuary protect these taonga, in the wild!💚🦉

Titirangi Potters have been working hard the last couple of months producing beautiful items to sell as a fundraiser at the Titirangi Titirangi Village Market and Crafty Baker.
All proceeds will be donated to Titirangi Urban Sanctuary and help support our local conservation efforts.
We are so incredibly thankful to Titirangi Potters and hope that you will support this wonderful initiative.
* Buy a mug at the stall outside Crafty Baker and get a free cup of coffee!

23/07/2026

While avian influenza has understandably been making headlines, our work continues. Birds are still arriving at our hospital needing urgent care, and we’re here to help.

Today we’re celebrating another success story. Patient 26-749 arrived at BirdCare after being found unable to fly, with abdominal wounds, bruising and a ruptured air sac. After three weeks in our care, they made a full recovery and with the help of our wonderful volunteer Sam, this kōtare was released back to the Pt. Chevalier ngahere where it belongs.

Our message from last week remains the same:
If you encounter even a single bird, particularly in coastal areas, showing neurological signs or appearing unusually unresponsive, please contact the MPI Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline (0800 809 966) for advice before attempting a rescue.

Even with HPAI now in Aotearoa, there is still plenty we can all do to help.

🌱 Support healthy habitats. Rather than feeding wild birds, consider supporting your local habitat restoration or conservation project. Healthy native ecosystems give birds the best chance to forage naturally and reduce unnecessary congregation at feeding sites.

🐕 Protect your pets! The HPAI virus has been shown to infect mammals. Keep dogs on a lead around wildlife and, keep cats indoors or supervised, particularly if sick or dead birds have been reported nearby.

🤝 Support the organisations caring for New Zealand’s wildlife. If you’re able, please consider donating to BirdCare below, BUT if there’s a wildlife rehab organisation in your own community, please consider supporting them too.

givealittle.co.nz/org/birdcareaotearoa

We’d like to thank you for your kind messages and aroha. Conservation has always been a community effort, and together, we’ll continue giving Aotearoa’s wildlife the best possible chance 💚

16/07/2026

A case of HPAI H5N1 (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) has now been confirmed in New Zealand.

We know this news may be concerning for many of our supporters, rescuers and volunteers. BirdCare Aotearoa has been working alongside the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) as part of New Zealand’s ongoing HPAI surveillance programme. Birds admitted to our hospital have been routinely tested where appropriate, with all results to date returning negative.

💚 We understand that members of the public will continue to find sick and injured birds and look to BirdCare for help. Our hospital remains open, and we remain committed to providing care for all birds brought to our door.

We ask for your patience while we introduce additional biosecurity measures and new admission procedures that will allow us to continue providing care safely while protecting the birds already in our hospital, our staff, volunteers, and the wider wildlife community.

⚠️ Before attempting to rescue a sick or injured bird, please take a moment to look for signs that may be associated with HPAI.

Signs that may require additional caution include:

🔹Sudden death with no obvious cause or injury
🔹A bird that is unable or unwilling to stand, walk or fly
🔹Coughing, panting, or nasal discharge
🔹Drooping head or wings
🔹Loss of balance, stumbling, circling or unusual behaviour
🔹Neck twisting, writhing or other neurological signs
🔹Severe lethargy or a bird that appears unusually unresponsive

If you encounter a bird in coastal areas showing these signs, even if it is just one bird, please contact the MPI Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline on 0800 809 966. MPI will assess the situation and advise on the safest next steps.

🧼 If you have handled a wild bird, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. If you regularly rescue or handle wildlife, wear disposable gloves where possible and clean your footwear and clothing after contact.

For more information about HPAI, including reporting guidance and ways you can help prevent the spread of disease, scan the QR code in the image above.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we adapt to this evolving situation 💙🐦

15/07/2026

Plastic Free July | A Reminder from our patients 💔🐦

The plastic fragments shown here were either removed from birds or regurgitated while in our care. The fishing line, hooks and sinkers were all recovered from birds after becoming entangled or swallowing fishing gear.

For a bird, these items can cause starvation, internal injuries, infection, poisoning, entanglement, and often injuries that are simply too severe to recover from.

The difficult part is that almost all of it is preventable. It’s a sobering reminder that the litter we leave behind doesn’t disappear.

Whether it’s choosing a reusable alternative, disposing of rubbish carefully, picking up litter on your next beach walk, or making sure old fishing line and tackle are taken home and disposed of properly—every action helps.

💚 If you’ve made a positive swap this Plastic Free July, we’d love to hear about it in the comments.

12/07/2026

Please join us and our amazing friends at Urban Ark- Manawa Taiao, this Thursday @6.15pm, Mt Eden Village Centre.

We will share data from BirdCare's rescue admissions, and discuss "How can our expanding city create greater protections for native birds?"

Please RSVP, seats are limited! 💚🦉🐣
https://events.humanitix.com/urban-ark-speaker-series-birdcare-aotearoa

🌟We had a full house for the last guest talk in our speaker series, so don't wait to secure your spot!' 🐦

Registration is essential. Reserve your place here:
🔗 https://events.humanitix.com/urban-ark-speaker-series-birdcare-aotearoa

Join us for a conversation with Dr Rashi Parker, General Manager of BirdCare Aotearoa as we explore an important question:
‘How can our expanding city create greater protection for native birds where habitat areas and human infrastructure meet?’

Every year BirdCare Aotearoa treats an increasing number of native birds injured by collisions with buildings, disorienting night lights, and diseases such as avian botulism. As Tāmaki Makaurau continues to grow, what role can city residents, communities, and urban planners play in creating a safer, more manu-friendly city?

Whether you're passionate about all things conservation or simply love Aotearoa's incredible birdlife, this is a conversation you don't want to miss!

📅 Spaces are limited, and registration is essential
Register now (link also in our bio, and events page) 🔗 https://events.humanitix.com/urban-ark-speaker-series-birdcare-aotearoa

12/07/2026

🌊 This Tākapu (Australasian Gannet) was all too eager to get back out to the moana where it belongs.

🪝 Patient 26-725 first arrived at Auckland Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital after being found on Tiritiri Matangi Island, underweight and entangled in discarded fishing tackle. The bird had a fish hook embedded in its chest, poor waterproofing around the wound, and lesions on the soles of its feet.

🏥 Following initial treatment by the incredible veterinary team at Auckland Zoo, the bird was transferred to BirdCare for ongoing rehabilitation.
After receiving pain relief, a course of antibiotics, nutritional support, and plenty of extra feeds to regain condition, this patient spent time recovering in our large seabird pool. Soon, it was healthy, waterproof, and ready to return to the wild.

🌅 Released at the Muriwai Gannet Colony, this beautiful manu wasted no time taking to the sky.

💚 This release was also a bittersweet moment for our team, as it was one of our dedicated Hospital Managers, Jono’s, final acts before heading to Palmerston North to continue doing amazing things for wildlife down there.
Ngā mihi nui, Jono, for everything you’ve given BirdCare - we’ll miss you and wish you all the very best for your next adventure

If you’d like to support the recovery of native birds like patient 26-725, please consider donating 👇

https://givealittle.co.nz/org/birdcareaotearoa