Kahu Conservation

17/05/2025

A wonderful meaningful message from the Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust gurus. Please just give them some time to move :)

The kāhu is a majestic and iconic feature of the New Zealand landscape, often seen hitching a ride on a rising thermal and circling up high, or perched on a rural fence post, sharp eyes searching and keen ears listening for the presence of an unsuspecting rat or rabbit.

Sadly, the coming months will prove tough for our kāhu. As live prey becomes harder to come by, harriers will resort to eating carrion more and more and you will often find them feeding on roadkill. Each year Wingspan receives an influx of harriers injured, often critically, by vehicle strike.

What you can do to help:
🪶 Keep your eyes peeled for harriers when driving
🪶 Slow down on corners
🪶 Pull over when it's safe to do so and drag roadkill off the road

Let's be kaitiaki for our kāhu! ❤

Kāhu | Australasian harrier | swamp harrier | hawk
📷 .haywood.photography

04/03/2025

We have had our busiest season yet, with lots of wonderful outcomes and birds back where they should be, in the wild. However it's taken its toll on us financially as we are completely self funded. We understand life is crazy expensive right now, but if you feel happy to help out with whatever you are comfortable with, it would be greatly appreciated. ❤️🦉 🦅

Helping our New Zealand Birds of Prey

01/03/2025

Just wanted to extend a massive THANK YOU to Waimauku Village Pharmacy & Waimauku Pharmacy Silver Fern, for helping us with medical supplies over the last several years. Without which, we simply wouldn't be able to provide the level of care we are so proud of. There's a lot of native raptors out there because of your generosity ❤️ 🦉

08/10/2024

Christmas can be tricky, so many decisions, so little time. Well, here's an easy decision. Buy multiple calendars full of beautiful NZ raptors and support an amazing cause. 🎄🎁 🦅

07/10/2024

Absolutely beautiful ❤️

Star is a bird of many names. Kārearea, kāiaia, the New Zealand falcon.Aotearoa was once a nation of manu. Winged creatures reigned: bats, bugs and birds. Wh...

18/09/2024

This week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, an annual celebration for all New Zealanders to show their support for the Māori language. The theme this year is 'Ake ake ake - a Forever Language', representing the resilience, adaptability and endurance of the language and our commitment to embrace it.

One way we can embrace te reo is in the choice of a name. This year, to celebrate Māori Language Week, we honour and remember one of our birds with a particularly special one - Hatupatu.

Hatched at Wingspan in 2013, Hatupatu was part of a landmark urban release of kārearea from the roof of the Rotorua Museum. The project not only boosted the wild population, but also offered a unique opportunity for the public to learn about and engage with a threatened species.

The Te Arawa legend of Hatupatu is famous among Rotorua locals, so it was only fitting that this young kārearea should live up to his namesake. Hatu became a familiar face in the Government Gardens, Whakarewarewa Forest - indeed, throughout Rotorua - becoming a local icon and an incredible advocate for his species. He was also a capable hunter and formidable warrior, successfully protecting and providing for 13 chicks throughout his life, before passing away in 2021.

Named after a true Te Arawa legend, he became a legend in his own right. Today we tell the story of Hatupatu to honour the bird, to honour the legend, and to honour the language.

📷 Black Stallion Photography

27/04/2024

An awesome opportunity for anyone out there who wants to be part of this amazing team. 👌 🦅

We are on the hunt for a new team member! 📣

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of our "Kārearea Falcons in Marlborough Schools Programme" whilst supporting the Manager with administration tasks to ensure smooth operations here at KFT.

If you are:
💚An enthusiastic and engaging communicator
💚Passionate about wildlife and conservation
💚Tech-savvy enough to assist with administration

Please swoop over to TradeMe (link below) to learn more about the role and see how you can apply!

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/jobs/education/primary/marlborough/blenheim/part-time/listing/4680330996?bof=7mMeN0kd

19/01/2024

Several weeks ago, the enclosure hatch was opened, and this Ruru enjoyed its first true exposure to the outside world. After a final meal and a moment of reflection, it took off. Along with its siblings, it frequented the hack ledge each evening for a meal until, gradually, nature took its course, and they began hunting their own food. We still have occasional sightings of them, with one even seen hunting moths around our outside light and harassing house sparrows as they try to roost in one of the barns. BirdCare Aotearoa