BirdCare Aotearoa

20/06/2026

This National Volunteer Week, we want to acknowledge something that sits at the heart of everything we do at BirdCare Aotearoa.

People.

Every rescue, every recovery, every release begins with people who care.
BirdCare Aotearoa exists because of a community of individuals who choose to give their time, skills, knowledge, and compassion to help Aotearoa's wild birds.

🦉To our volunteers who spend countless hours caring for patients, preparing food, cleaning enclosures, and tackling the many unseen jobs that keep our hospital running — thank you.

🎓 To our researchers, students and interns who volunteer their time to learn from our experienced team and help carry the torch for the future of wildlife rehabilitation in Aotearoa — thank you.

💼 To our Board of Trustees, who generously provide leadership, expertise, and guidance as unpaid volunteers — thank you.

👥 To our community partners, Coastguard crews, council rangers, iwi partners, conservation groups, schools, corporate volunteer teams, and the many people who help with rescues, releases, fundraising, advocacy, and education — thank you.

🌱And to the unsung heroes who speak up for BirdCare in rooms we cannot always be present in, who advocate for wildlife, champion our work, attend meetings, open doors, make connections, and ensure the needs of our birds are heard — thank you.

As a charity, we operate with very limited funding. The generosity of volunteers is what keeps us moving forward, and gives thousands of beautiful manu a second chance.
Our volunteers have contributed an incredible 26,204 hours of service - but the true impact reaches far beyond any number we can measure.

Behind every bird that comes through our doors is a network of people giving their time, energy, expertise, resources, influence, and aroha.
Together, they form the BirdCare whānau that makes our work possible.

This National Volunteer Week, we celebrate all those who stand alongside us in caring for Aotearoa's wildlife.
You are part of our story. You are part of every success. And we simply could not do what we do without you.

From all of us at BirdCare
Ngā mihi nui 💚

15/06/2026

Important updates: Open hours, and please contact via email.

BirdCare Aotearoa, native bird hospital will be open for public rescue admissions from Sundays - Fridays, 10am - 2pm.

🚑 On Saturdays, starting on the 20th June 2026, please take bird rescues to your local vet.

☎️ As always, please call 0800 DOC HOT for 24/7 advise on native wildlife rescues.

📩 Please email us: [email protected], and our helpful team will respond as soon as we can. We are no longer able to answer public phone calls.

💚 These were not easy decisions, and were made due to financial pressures. Please be assured that our team - now just five passionate staff supported by incredible volunteers - will continue to provide compassionate clinical care and advocacy for native bird rescues across Auckland, and neighboring districts, seven days a week!

🗓️ Our admission data showed fewer rescue intakes on Saturdays. In-patients will continue to receive daily life-saving care, while closed to new rescue-admissions.

📈 We sincerely hope that funding outcomes will help us return to the fully-staffed operations as soon as possible! Thank you for your understanding and aroha.

💚 Our charity warmly welcomes support in the form of grants, corporate partnerships and donations. You can become a regular-giving Friend of BirdCare Aotearoa, or make a one-off donation at by following the link below.

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

Thank you again, to our wonderful BirdCaring whanau, for your continued support.

06/06/2026

Please be careful with your fishing gear. 🎣

BirdCare Aotearoa regularly receives seabirds that have become the unintended victims of discarded fishing gear. From swallowed hooks and entanglement injuries to severe infections and starvation, the consequences can be devastating.

While we do everything we can to save these birds, some injuries are simply too severe - some cases happy endings, and others sadly cannot not be saved.

A simple act, such as taking discarded line, hooks, and tackle home with you, can make a real difference. By helping to keep our beaches, waterways, and moana free of fishing litter, you can prevent unnecessary suffering for the taonga species that share these environments with us. 💚

Ngā mihi to everyone who fishes responsibly and takes the time to remove rubbish from the places they visit.

If you’d like to support this important work, please consider donating below. 👇

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

28/05/2026

Just a young Kererū enjoying some outside time. 💚

In between building flight confidence and learning natural foraging behaviours, Kererū 26-666 from Whangārei is enjoying a spot of lunch with a little help from the team. 😋

This youngster is growing in leaps and bounds and continuing to make fantastic progress - hopefully it won’t be too long before it is ready to be reintroduced back into the wild.

BirdCare Aotearoa rehabilitates native birds from right across Auckland and neighbouring regions. Every patient receives specialised care to give them the best possible chance at recovery and release.

If you’d like to support this life-saving work, please consider donating below. 👇

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

19/05/2026

Don't forget to get your tickets! 🐦🎼

Main concert is on Friday May 22nd, 7pm at St Matthew-in-the-City, and Matinee concert is on Saturday May 23rd, 2pm at the University of Auckland School of Music Theatre.

Tickets via Humanitix on attached poster.

Who likes bird song? What about songs, fundraising for birds?! 🐦

This year, the talented Auckland Uni Student Chamber Orchestra have chosen to support BirdCare Aotearoa through their annual concert! 🎼🎻🥁🎺🦉

We are honored! 💚

Main concert is on Friday May 22nd, 7pm at St Matthew-in-the-City, and Matinee concert is on Saturday May 23rd, 2pm at the University of Auckland School of Music Theatre.

Tickets via Humanitix on attached poster.

Please support their incredible orchestra... which in turn is supporting our clinical rehabilitation mahi. 👇

https://events.humanitix.com/ausco-presents-across-lands-and-legends-cw9p2c8c

18/05/2026

Whose eye was this? 👀
If you guessed Spotless crake / Pūweto, you were correct!

Patient 26-656 travelled all the way from Rākino Island after being found unable to walk and clearly unwell.

Thanks to the quick actions of caring community members, this little manu was brought to BirdCare Aotearoa as quickly as possible for urgent assessment and care.

Unfortunately, this story does not have a happy ending. On arrival, our team found a bird that was cold, weak, underweight, and showing signs of ataxia. Despite efforts to stabilise and warm the patient, it sadly passed away shortly after admission.

We can’t save them all. However, thanks to the compassion of the those who brought this Pūweto to us - and the ongoing support of We Care Community Trust Limited - we were able to give it the best possible chance. 💚

16/05/2026

BirdCare Aotearoa will be closed today due to staff illness.

We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. 💚

15/05/2026

Who's eye is this? 👀

This striking red eye belongs to a patient that was recently admitted to BirdCare Aotearoa. Can you guess what species it is?

14/05/2026

Lunch time! 😋

This young Kererū is still learning how to feed itself, and needs a bit of guidance from the team. 💚

Patient 26-666 was found at Hurupaki School in Whangarei. It had fallen from its nest, and was grounded (could not fly). Huge thanks to its rescuer for driving it all the way to BirdCare! It is recovering well, very chirpy... and has a great appetite!

We rehabilitate native birds rescued all over Auckland, and neighbouring districts like Whangarei. Huge thanks to Pub Charity Limited for funding this life-saving work by our Hospital Manager!