BirdCare Aotearoa

07/11/2024

Why is a wild bird hospital playing Hitchcock's The Birds?! Great question!!

Come find out! Join us at The Hollywood Avondale, Sun 10th Nov. Doors open from 5.30pm.
https://events.humanitix.com/hitchcock-the-birds-for-birdcare-aotearoa

The evening will feature a special cocktail, in collab with our amazing friends Hollywood Avondale - a toast to conservation-hero Tippi Hedren. Or try the infamous Puteketeke Hazy from our mates at Behemoth Brewing Company.

Thank you Whau Local Board for your support of the event.

Much love to all who have included additional donations with your ticket purchases! 💚🐣🐦
Kilsby Ceramics and Alderson's, have kindly donated bird-themed spot prizes for those bird-loving heroes!

It takes more than a village to care for our feathered friends, thank you to everyone involved 💚🦉

All fun and funds raised will support the life-saving operations at BirdCare Aotearoa!

04/11/2024

Congratulations to the 17000 people who completed Run The City yesterday. A huge aroha-filled thank you to Tamera, Alex, Zoe and Hannah, who collectively raised $1663 for BirdCare Aotearoa!💚🐤🏅You truly are Toa Tiaki Manu, Champions of Wild Birds!

Your speedy efforts will support a month of species-specific food costs, during our baby baby bird season! Ngā mihi nui.

Are you inspired by The Run The City heroes? Please sign up for our campaign, encouraging bird champions, of all ages, to get out into nature, and take on an activity, while fundraising for BirdCare Aotearoa!

Those who complete their challenge will receive a limited edition, locally-crafted Toa Tiaki Manu, Champion of Wild Birds medal, and go in the draw to win prizes from Allbirds and Tree Adventures will you walk, run or fly for BirdCare Aotearoa?

03/11/2024

We are supporting Animates Vetcare NZ about the ban on the public sale of fireworks. Fireworks have a detrimental affect on wildlife and pets. Please sign the petition. Thank you

01/11/2024

Hello

We want to thank the students at Green Bay High School for their bake sale which raised $376.40. We are very grateful for your all your efforts. This money will go towards meal worms and crickets for these orphaned babies.

We are currently in full swing of baby bird season where we are feeding lots of hungry mouths. If you are able to donate towards meal worms and crickets then please click the link

https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/

31/10/2024

Kia ora whanau, hope you enjoyed the Halloween festivities! A special thank you to everyone who used bird-safe and environmentally-friendly decorations. We often receive bird casualties entangled in Halloween webbing.

On the topic of trick or tweets, this is a friendly reminder of our upcoming Film Fundraiser at the Hollywood Avondale.

We would love to fill more seats at this beautiful theatre- so please tell your friends! All funds raised will be used to support the life-saving care at BirdCare Aotearoa.

The event will include a special cinematic release of the work at BirdCare Aotearoa, reminding us all that unlike in Hollywood our Taonga species cannot fight back!

Hitchcock's The Birds

30/10/2024

BirdCare Aotearoa events!

Front-line emergency training - One-day course for responding to wildlife emergencies 💚
https://events.humanitix.com/one-day-intensive-workshop-front-line-wildlife-emergency-training

Dr Lynn Miller, Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator from BirdCare Aotearoa will teach you how to respond safely and humanely to wild bird emergencies, and key skills/techniques necessary to rescue wild birds in the field.

2 course dates available:

In-person version - 9th November 2024: 9.30am - 4.30pm - at BirdCare Aotearoa wild bird hospital. Green Bay, Auckland (includes site tour).

Online live Zoom version - 16th November 2024: 9.30am - 2.30pm - with meeting link to be confirmed for registrants.

YOU WILL LEARN...
Step-by-step processes for evaluating the situation, capture, handling, transport and first aid for sick, injured or abandoned/orphaned wild birds, including:
· how to cope with orphaned, injured, poisoned, or sick birds you encounter
· how to decide when to rescue a bird
· skills and tips for rapid evaluation of situations in the field
· the humane approach to capture, housing and transport
· skills and tips for the safe handling of any bird species
· essential first aid instructions to save the life of a bird
· what are survivable injuries, and when is euthanasia the best treatment
· a review of the ‘chain of evidence’ requirements in a suspected malicious incident
· how to ensure your and others’ safety, and recognise the stressors that impact front-line responders

https://events.humanitix.com/one-day-intensive-workshop-front-line-wildlife-emergency-training

Movie Fundraiser🦅
BirdCare Aotearoa and our friends at Hollywood Avondale are screening Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963)!

This classic horror-thriller film was selected for our wild bird charity's fundraiser, as Hitchcock explained that the events at Bodega Bay unfolded because humans took nature for granted, and this continues to be a timely reminder for us all to care for nature. The Birds will feature after a short trailer about BirdCare Aotearoa, and the evening is also a chance for you to meet our team.

All funds raised will support our renowned wild bird hospital and rehabilitation centre, where heroes like you bring in up to 100 sick, injured or orphaned birds a day! We are a charity, operating on donations and grants, so thank you for supporting us!

The Hollywood Avondale is renowned as a "Free spirit in the cinematic world," and this historic cinema palace is the perfect setting for this fundraiser screening.

Bird lovers, classic film enthusiasts, horror fans, and historians, book your seats today!

https://events.humanitix.com/hitchcock-the-birds-for-birdcare-aotearoa

For queries, please contact [email protected]

30/10/2024

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Auckland Airport and their wildlife team, to support each other with expertise and knowledge.

Thank you Auckland Airport for your support of our wild bird hospital!

We’re proud to support Auckland-based bird rescue centre, BirdCare Aotearoa, which provides professional care, rehabilitation, and release services for wild birds.

Last year more than 6,200 birds were admitted to BirdCare Aotearoa, New Zealand’s largest wild bird hospital. Not only is this bird hospital an amazing community asset, one which is entirely funded by sponsorship and donations, but it’s great our wildlife management team can share knowledge, support and expertise with the team from BirdCare Aotearoa.

Auckland Airport is uniquely located on the Manukau Harbour, a natural habitat for wading and shore birds, and our wildlife team ensure birdlife can safely coexist with our airfield operations.

25/10/2024

Happy Friday!
These sweet little warou/welcome swallow chicks are being fed insects with tweezers, until they are able to fly well enough to catch live insects on the wing!

Here's a link to our latest newsletter, which is full of updates about our wild bird hospital, patients, and a range of upcoming events and opportunities 💚🦉https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/about/newsletters/

Have a wonderful long weekend!

22/10/2024

BirdCare Aotearoa wild bird hospital charity gives rescued wild birds a second chance at life!

Our hospital recently received a rescued kōtare/sacred kingfisher which was found on the ground, unable to fly. After a full triage assessment by a hospital manager, it was found to have injured its head, potentially by hitting a window.

The kōtare was placed in an intensive care unit, provided with additional oxygen, and given fluids via a medical procedure to help stabilise it. The injured bird was also given medication to alleviate its pain. When the kōtare had improved enough to be ready to eat, it was fed a mixture of food specifically tailored for its recovery.

After a few days of rest and monitoring in the hospital general ward, it was transferred to an outdoor aviary to regain flight strength and ensure that it had fully recovered. During its time in the outdoor aviary, its feather condition was assessed to ensure appropriate waterproofing. After 23 days in care at BirdCare Aotearoa, the rehabilitation team were happy that the kōtare was able to be released back to its home territory again! 💚

This was just one of thousands of rescued wild birds which BirdCare Aotearoa has cared for so far this year. Now that spring is here, our nurseries are filling up with hundreds of orphaned baby birds, which need feeding 12 hours per day! Our dedicated team and wonderful volunteers are proud to be able to give wild birds a second chance at life!

To help support our charity's care of rescued wild birds, please share this post containing a fantastic range of activities, events, shopping opportunities and more!

Movie fundraiser 10th November - The Hollywood Avondale https://events.humanitix.com/hitchcock-the-birds-for-birdcare-aotearoa

Move for Good! Fundraising activity supported by and Tree Adventures - Register to win a pair of Allbirds sneakers or a Tree Adventures double pass! https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/move-for-good/

Join Kōtare Kids Club https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/kids-club-membership/

Shop online https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/online-shop/

Full range of opportunities here https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/

We are welcoming new partners to join BirdCare Aotearoa, for range of advertising and promotional opportunities with our wide network of nature and animal lovers!
To receive a copy of our prospectus, please email Carl Ashworth
[email protected]

Thank you for helping us continue saving lives! 💚

17/10/2024

Move for Good! Help save orphaned baby wild birds at BirdCare Aotearoa wild bird hospital and rehabilitation centre 🐥

Many of our compassionate friends have asked “how can I help BirdCare Aotearoa?” Great question - caring for our feathered friends is a community effort! This outdoor activity peer fundraising campaign encourages bird, sport and nature lovers to get out into nature, enjoy the birdlife, and become a wild bird champion by taking on a challenge, while raising funds for New Zealand's beloved charitable wild bird hospital.

Move for Good is proudly supported by Allbirds and Tree Adventures and all registered champions go in the draw to win your own eco-friendly Allbirds sneakers or a Tree Adventures double pass (prize draw 31 March 2025)!

In recognition of your efforts, champions who complete their challenge will receive an eco-friendly, locally-crafted medal!
The school with the most champions wins a Rimu trophy!

For those signing up for organised runs/walks/cycling/swimming events, you can register your fundraising through Grassrootz (BirdCare Aotearoa, Charities registration ).

For those wishing to take up a personal challenge, you can register your efforts through https://givealittle.co.nz/org/birdcareaotearoa or through our website https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/move-for-good which includes a classic sign up sheet to encourage your friends and family as sponsors.

Consider family-friendly challenges like Birdie Bingo (see move-for-good page above), orienteering, hiking, or twitching/bird-watching with the Merlin App*. (*Thanks to our friends at the Leukaemia Foundation for this engaging idea!)

All proceeds raised will support the care of the hundreds of rescued baby wild birds which grow up in the dedicated BirdCare Aotearoa nurseries during spring and summer.

Invite your club, school or work mates to join you, and Move for Good! 💚

17/10/2024

Thank you to New Lynn War Memorial Library, Papakura Sir Edmund Hillary Library and New Zealand Maritime Museum for hosting BirdCare Aotearoa for a series of conservation-focused talks through Auckland Council outreach programmes.

These hui gave us opportunities to kōrero with passionate communities of bird-lovers. We were particularly inspired by the young conservation heroes, buzzing with ideas to keep wild birds safe!

Ka pai everyone.

14/10/2024

Warning graphic content

Hello friends

A rescuer brought in this young little penguin/kororā chick, unfortunately the injuries from the dog bite on the head were so severe the only option was end of life care. This penguin was found at Langs beach and was next to one of its parents. The parent was deceased after being attacked by the same dog.

We cannot implore you enough to keep your dogs on a lead to protect these and other beautiful species who are vulnerable to such attacks and whose numbers have been declining due to climate change, overfishing and habitat loss.

BirdCare Aotearoa is in a financially precarious position as we are not government funded and rely on the kindness of public donations and some grants.

We are currently ramping up for baby bird season where we will receive hundreds of baby birds that need critical and acute care. Please click on the link below to donate or become a friend of BirdCare Aotearoa.

https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/supportus/

Thank you

14/10/2024

"What does it take to rehabilitate Kererū?" We often receive these gentle giants as casualties of window-strikes and car-collisions, while baby Kererū rescues often involve cat or dog attacks. Our Hospital Assistants multi-task as chefs, nurses, physiotherapists, and flight-testers, supporting all aspects of their recovery, so they can once again return to the skies.
A giant thank you to the funding received from We Care Community Trust enabling our Hospital Assistants to continue their specialist work!

Note, knowing the impact of window strike, our friends at Matuku Link have developed anti-bird strike stickers https://matukulink.org.nz/product/dragonflies/

Thank you to everyone working together, to protect these taonga, found nowhere else in the world!

(Kererū fledgling image copyright Eva Cadario)

14/10/2024

Orphaned wild birds need your help!

BirdCare Aotearoa wild bird hospital and rehabilitation centre has begun filling up with rescued baby birds this spring. Our charity provides expert care to hundreds of baby wild birds, giving them a second chance at life, and contributing to conservation of NZ’s treasured taonga birdlife. This specialised care requires several thousand dollars every year, to give the best possible care to the chicks, preparing them for a successful life back in nature.

For tours and opportunities to see birds being cared for, become a Friend of BirdCare Aotearoa https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/friend-of-birdcare-aotearoa/ or join our Kōtare Kids Club https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/kids-club-membership/

To donate, sponsor, shop online, or attend events, and for various other ways to help our charity continue saving baby wild birds, please visit https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/supportus/

Thank you for caring for NZ’s precious wild birds!

10/10/2024

Movie fundraiser for saving wild birds!
BirdCare Aotearoa and our friends at Hollywood Avondale cinema are screening Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963)!
Sunday 10th Nov, 6.30pm

This classic horror-thriller film was selected for our fundraiser, as Hitchcock explained that the events at Bodega Bay unfolded because humans took nature for granted, and this continues to be a timely reminder for us all to care for nature. The Birds will feature after a short trailer about BirdCare Aotearoa, and the evening is also a chance for you to meet our team.

All funds raised will support our renowned wild bird hospital and rehabilitation centre, where heroes like you bring in up to 100 sick, injured or orphaned birds a day! We are a charity, operating on donations and grants, so thank you for supporting us!

The Hollywood Avondale is renowned as a "Free spirit in the cinematic world," and this historic cinema palace is the perfect setting for this fundraiser screening.

Bird lovers, classic film enthusiasts, horror fans, and historians, please share this invitation with friends, family and colleagues, and book your seats today!

Hitchcock's The Birds

09/10/2024

Hello friends

We would like to thank the rescuers who brought this duckling to us, along with a very special card. Christopher, as this duckling has been named, came to us after being attacked by a cat. The duckling was given pain relief and is on antibiotics. Christopher is doing well and has made some duckling friends at BirdCare Aotearoa. We are hopeful he will make a full recovery and be released back into the wild.

Duckling season has most definitely arrived as we are currently caring for over 100 ducklings including some native species, paradise shelducklings, as you can imagine there are high costs involved in this specialist care, we are not funded by the government and rely on generous donations from the public and through local grants.

Each duckling, depending on the health status and rehabilitation needs costs an average of $100 or more.

At BirdCare Aotearoa we rescue and rehabilitate up to 6000+ birds per year, as you can imagine this can be very expensive. Please if you can, donate to our hospital below or become a friend of BirdCare Aotearoa as a regular donor.

https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/donate/

03/10/2024

Happy Friday!
Baby bird season is underway at BirdCare Aotearoa, with our nurseries filling up with rescued songbird chicks and fledglings. A couple of hundred ducklings have been cared for already since the start of spring, including many native pūtangitangi/paradise shelducks. We've also raised plover and pūkeko chicks, and a fluffy kakīānau/black swan cygnet.

For a selection of fun and interesting options for helping support our charity's life-saving care - including upcoming events, kids club, and our online merchandise store, please visit https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/

02/10/2024

Holiday entertainment for the whole family!

Our spring Kōtare Kids Club pack includes fun facts, crossword, word search, Halloween craft activity, exploring a nature reserve, and a colouring competition!

Members will be invited to a special Kōtare Kids Club event at BirdCare Aotearoa in November, for the opportunity to see some of the birds being cared for, and to have fun learning about birds and nature. 🦉

There’s still time to join to receive the welcome pack and the spring edition for the school holidays. 😊

Join the fun today! https://birdcareaotearoa.org.nz/get-involved/kids-club-membership/