BirdCare Aotearoa

Moho pererū/banded rail release

Nursery success story! It's been a long road for this little moho pererū/banded rail who entered our nursery as a tiny orphan a few weeks ago. We were so happy to watch them smash every milestone as they moved from indoor nursery to outside enclosure and learned essential survival skills along the way. And then came the big day! 🥳 The moho pererū (now named "Marutau" by Ngāti Manuhiri) was released in the lovely predator proof sanctuary of Shakespeare Regional Park. We have faith that they have been set up for success to live a long, happy and natural life as a wild bird. 💚 Marutau - the name reflects the bird’s journey of care and protection, from being raised as a chick at BirdCare Aotearoa to it's release into it's natural habitat. It speaks to the special relationship we share with Te Taiao (environment) and our role as kaitiaki (guardians). By naming this manu Marutau, we honor not only its story but also the collective effort of everyone involved in nurturing it and preparing it for release. The name symbolises safety, peace, and the hope that it will thrive in its new space. 🥰💚 Being a charity, we rely on donations and sponsorship to continue our vital work. If you would like to learn how to get involved and support our charity so that we can continue to save lives, please visit: birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/ Or click the link to donate: https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/ 💚 💚 💚 #charity #birds #chicks #cute #rehabilitation #hospital #bird #rescue #birdrescue #birdhospital #animals #birds #animals #help #birdsofinstagram #instagood #wildliferescue #birdlovers #newzealand #aotearoa #donate #wildlife #conservation #wildlifeconservation #animals

Poaka/pied stilt This gorgeous pair of poaka chicks entered our nursery as little orphans. After just a couple of weeks in care, they have more than doubled in size! We enjoy watching them grow and learn about their expanding world as they outgrow the indoor nursery and move to an outdoor enclosure. But seeing them return to the wild once they are big and strong is what we love the most. 💚 These are just one of countless species that enter our nursery every year. Each requiring unique and specialised care. If you would like to learn how to get involved and support our charity so that we can continue to save lives, please visit: birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/ Or click the link to donate: https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/ 💚 💚 💚 #charity #birds #chicks #cute #rehabilitation #hospital #bird #rescue #birdrescue #birdhospital #animals #birds #animals #help #birdsofinstagram #instagood #wildliferescue #birdlovers #newzealand #aotearoa #donate #wildlife #conservation #wildlifeconservation #animals

Lovely day for a splash in the pool 🌊🦆 These orphaned pūtangitangi/paradise shelducks are having a blast in the pool on this beautiful sunny day as their new, older friend shows them the best feather-washing techniques 😎 This group is made up of orphans that have come from various circumstances and have been raised here at BirdCare Aotearoa. It won't be long before they are all big enough to be released and return to the wild where they belong. 💚 Being a charity, our wild bird hospital relies on donations and sponsorship to continue it's vital work. If you would like to learn how to get involved and support our charity so that we can continue to save lives, please visit: birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/ Or click the link to donate: https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/ 💚 💚 💚 #charity #birds #chicks #cute #rehabilitation #hospital #bird #rescue #birdrescue #birdhospital #animals #birds #animals #help #birdsofinstagram #instagood #wildliferescue #birdlovers #newzealand #aotearoa #donate #wildlife #conservation #wildlifeconservation #animals

Hello everyone Just a reminder that we will be closed for admissions from 23rd December to 13th January to allow some of our team to have a much needed break. Thank you so much to the @blueskycommunitytrust, their generous funding of our incredible Nursery staff ensures that these orphaned baby birds can one day soon also return to Blue Skies." But that doesn't mean that we aren't still a full house! Our nurseries are full of hungry orphaned baby birds that require expert care. 🐣🐦🐥🦉 So for the remaining team, the Mahi continues to keep the babies - just like this ruru chick - fed and content. 🥰 Being a charity, we rely on donations and sponsorship to do our life-saving work. If you would like to learn how to get involved and support our charity, please visit: birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/ Or click the link to donate: https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/ 💚 💚 💚 #charity #birds #chicks #cute #rehabilitation #hospital #bird #rescue #birdrescue #birdhospital #animals #birds #animals #help #wildliferescue #birdlovers #newzealand #aotearoa #donate #wildlife #conservation #wildlifeconservation #animals

Gullgull update! Our famous Gull is still going strong. Once the wing fracture healed, they were moved into a large space to encourage excersise. They were enjoying regular swims and were no longer on any medication. From this point on it was up to them to demonstrate how much better they were, by showing us their flying ability. 💪 However in a somewhat perplexing turn of events, Gullgull was not flying.... Even with gentle encouragement, ample space and access to high places which should be appealing for a gull to perch on. At this stage in their recovery they should be capable, but without showing us that they can fly Gullgull could not progress. A gull that is unable to fly cannot be released, as they will not only be incapable of hunting and finding their own food - it also leaves them very vulnerable to predation. But we were all rooting for this special bird, and we did not give up. The next step was to send them for an x-ray to rule out any physical reason as to why Gullgull was not flying. Huge thank-you to Pet Doctors for helping us with the x-ray. Thankfully, the x-ray showed no abnormalities - and soon after Gullgull started to fly! 💚 It certainly has been a bit of a Rollercoaster. Thank you to our wonderful community who has donated towards the rehabilitation of this beautiful bird. Gullgull has now been successfully released in an area where they are hopefully less likely to encounter dogs. 🥳 Being a charity, we rely on donations and sponsorship to do our life-saving work. If you would like to learn how to get involved and support our charity, please visit: birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/ Or click the link to donate: https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/ 💚 💚 💚 #charity #birds #chicks #cute #rehabilitation #hospital #bird #rescue #birdrescue #birdhospital #animals #birds #animals #help #wildliferescue #birdlovers #newzealand #aotearoa #donate #wildlife #conservation #wildlifeconservation #animals

BABY BIRD APPEAL This Christmas, the we have set an ambitious goal of raising $200,000 to help meet the essential needs of our nurseries. We are inviting individuals, businesses, and community groups to come together to help save the birds and give them the second chance they deserve. 💚 If you would like to learn how to get involved and support our charity, please visit: birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/ Or click the link to donate: https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/ Our nurseries are full to the brim already, and we're only half day through the busy season! 🐥🐦🐧🐣🦉 The spring and summer months really do kick off at BirdCare Aotearoa, with countless orphaned or injured baby birds coming in thick and fast. During this time we take on four extra staff accross two nurseries (native and non-native), each filled with years of avian experience and expertise to ensure that each orphan that comes into care (whether it be ruru, tūī and weka or blackbirds, song-thrush, doves - and anything in between) recieves the best possible care during their stay. 💚 And boy, do the team have their hands full! With feeding timers going off every few minutes (some species require feeding as often as every 15 minutes) their days are filled with a symphony of chirping, skueaking and squawking as the they feed, clean, weigh, bandage, medicate and expertly tend to all the babies with the help of our wonderful volunteers. It takes a village to ensure that each baby is set up for success and able to be returned to the wild. Being a charity, we rely solely on donations and sponsorship to continue our vital work. We expect the baby birds to continue arriving over the next couple of months and the expense of caring for each one to the high standard that they deserve, as well as the wages of our four extra staff members, is really taking a toll. It costs an average of $180 to rehabilitate each bird, and we need the help of our community now more than eve

Ruru/morepork chick update! Our little ruru chick is doing very well under the attentive eye of our expert nursery team. The fracture in the wing has completely healed and they are growing very fast. They are now self-feeding, and fuffy grey down is starting to transform into darker adult feathers as they begin to explore their expanding world. 🦉 It won't be long before they will be big enough to graduate the nursery and move into a large space to begin practicing their flying abilities. Huge thank you to everyone who has donated towards the care of this little one so far - they are progressing well but they still have a ways to go! 💚 Baby bird appeal: Being a charity, we depend on donations and sponsorship to continue this important work. This ruru is just one of countless species of orphaned or injured baby birds that we currently have in our nurseries, and we need your help to continue saving the lives of this these precious taonga. This Christmas, the organisation has set an ambitious goal of raising $200,000 to help meet these essential needs. We are inviting individuals, businesses, and community groups to come together to help save the birds and give them the second chance they deserve. If you would like to learn how to get involved and support our charity, please visit: birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/ Or click the link to donate: https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/ 💚 💚 💚 #charity #birds #chicks #cute #rehabilitation #hospital #bird #rescue #birdrescue #birdhospital #animals #birds #animals #help #wildliferescue #birdlovers #newzealand #aotearoa #donate #wildlife #conservation #wildlifeconservation #animals

How cute is this ruru/morepork chick! 😍 This little one was found by chance on a hiking trail after they had fallen out of their nest. Dehydrated and with a fractured wing, it was clear that they needed immediate help. Huge thank you to the rescuers who picked up this baby and brought them to BirdCare Aotearoa. After just a short time in care with pain relief, rest and a some good food on board they are already healing well and growing in leaps and bounds. 💚 Baby bird appeal: This ruru is just one of countless species of orphaned or injured baby birds that we currently have in our nurseries, and we need your help to continue saving the lives of these precious taonga. This Christmas, the organisation has set an ambitious goal of raising $200,000 to help meet these essential needs. We are inviting individuals, businesses, and community groups to come together this Christmas to help save the birds and give them the second chance they deserve. If you would like to learn how to get involved and support our charity, please visit: birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/ Or click the link to donate: https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/ 💚 💚 💚 #charity #birds #chicks #cute #rehabilitation #hospital #bird #rescue #birdrescue #birdhospital #animals #birds #animals #help #wildliferescue #birdlovers #newzealand #aotearoa #donate #wildlife #conservation #wildlifeconservation #Rehabilitation #animals

Airport penguin update! 🐧✈ The Kororā/little blue penguin (now nicknamed Mānawa) that was rescued after it found it's way to Mānawa Bay is doing very well! Upon arrival at BirdCare Aotearoa, our hospital team immediately got to work stabilizing and rehydrating the bird, before transferring them to the amazing team at Native Bird Rescue - Waiheke Island to further their rehabilitation. After just a few days at their penguin facility it is already clear that Mānawa is doing very well and even making friends! Here is the update from Native Bird Rescue - Waiheke Island: "They are doing well and just need to gain some weight as they were emaciated. As you can see from the video after starting with bone broth then anchovy smoothies this little one is now wolfing down the fish. Mānawa will be ready for release once they have gained enough weight". We hope you are as thrilled as us to recieve this news. We will keep you updated as Mānawa's rehabilitation progresses. Thanks again to our friends at Mānawa Bay - Premium Outlet Centre and our partners Auckland Airport, and their wildlife team for helping to rescue this beautiful bird and bring them to BCA. 💚 If you would like to learn how to get involved and support our charity, please visit: birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/ Or click the link to donate: https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/ 💚 💚 💚 #charity #birds #chicks #cute #rehabilitation #hospital #bird #rescue #birdrescue #birdhospital #animals #instagood #birds #animals #help #birdlovers #newzealand #aotearoa #donate #wildlife #conservation #wildlifeconservation #Rehabilitation

Bath time! Our celebrity Gull is progressing very well under the watchful eye of our hospital team. Daily physiotherapy and exercise is helping to build strength in the once broken wing. As they have a wash in the pool, please take a moment to observe how the water beads beautifully off the body - just like a raincoat! 🧥 This is testament to the amazing waterproofing abilities of their feathers and the importance of regular baths to maintain feather quality, as a bird that is not waterproof is highly susceptible to hypothermia when they get wet. Whether it be for daily baths, swims or cleaning we sure do use a lot of water here at BirdCare Aotearoa. We are extremely grateful for The Lion Foundation for supporting a month's worth of utility bills, to ensure our patients continue to receive the best possible care. 💚 If you would like to learn how to get involved and support our charity, please visit: birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/ Or click the link to donate: https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/ (Please excuse the strange "strobe lights", this is a product of the camera used to film under the lighting and can't be seen in person!)