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Bruce the thirsty kiwi recovering well

Media Release 09 November 2020 A newborn kiwi chick found dehydrated and disorientated in a Riponui farmer’s paddock is recovering well and putting on weight under the care of the team at the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre. Named Bruce by the farming couple that found him, the chick was losing weight rapidly when brought…
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Battered and bruised Rascal on the mend

1 September 2020 A cheeky kaka named Rascal is still battered and bruised but getting a little better each week thanks to the team at the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre. They’ve had the juvenile bird, thought to be about two-years-old, for about five weeks after it was found in the middle of a road…
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Long road to recovery for lucky kiwi

17 August 2020 After nine months of extensive care and rehab, a young female North Island brown kiwi is getting closer to being released back into the wild. The one and a half years old kiwi was brought into the Whangarei Native Bird Centre just before Christmas after being hit by a car in Russell. …
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Kiwi dog attacks a ‘smack in the face’

Media Release 15 July 2020 A spate of dog attacks on kiwi is being called a “smack in the face” by Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre manager Robert Web. He is treating the latest victim, a male brown kiwi from Kerikeri, and looking after it’s unhatched offspring – a 12-day egg, which is in the…
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Order of Merit for dedication to saving birds

Media Release 01 June 2020 Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre manager Robert Webb (QSM) says he couldn’t believe it and is “proud all round” to be named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Webb has received the honour for his conservation and wildlife work at…
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No food or water for drunk pigeons

Media Release 18 May 2020 A steep rise in the number of drunk wood pigeons (keruru) turning up at the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre has led manager Robert Webb to issue a warning – don’t offer the drunks anything to eat or drink. With native autumn forest fruits coming to an end, Webb says…
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Boat shortfall leaves Bird Centre high and dry

Media Release 11 May 2020 A $7000 funding shortfall for a new rescue boat means the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre is unable to mount sea rescue operations for injured birds, including the iconic albatross. Bird Centre manager Robert Webb says the Centre had been without a boat now for three months, which was a…
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Story of an egg

Fertile eggs are recovered from the burrows of wild kiwi approximately 45  to 50 days into the 75 day incubation.  Incubation, hatching and rearing of the young kiwi is completed in captivity.  The kiwi chick inside this egg has pipped the shell. It could take up to  another 24 hrs to hatch. Just breaking out. Of…
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Bitty the Bittern

“The neighbour phoned me to come over and have a look at this strange looking brown and white bird.  She said it was trying desperately to get into her chook house!”  Mr & Mrs Gregory rushed next door and immediately recognised the bird as a young Bittern. Bitterns fledge at 7 weeks (approx.), somehow the “teenaged”…
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Royal Albert the Albatross

On 24 December 2005 a Southern Royal Albatross was picked up from Ripiro Beach near Glinks Gully on the west coast of Northland, New Zealand. The male bird, estimated to be two or three years old was worn out and had a wing injury after battling strong stormy winds.  Robert Webb, Centre Manager, said that…
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