Hunua Bird Life

01/11/2026

This ruru was released at Cristin's place last night. He was quite the poser. He flew from tree to tree and sat on the roof for a while, waiting for his broomstick to arrive in time for Halloween!
🎃👻🎃

30/10/2026

This young kereru had a window strike, and as described in an earlier post, sustained crop damage and a fractured coracoid chest bone.

After 6 weeks of care and rehabilitation, it was ready to join the whanau flock at the rescuers' property. It will continue to build strength and fitness in the wild.

The parent birds welcomed their juvenile, and they have been observed feeding together again!

The best feeling 🌟

25/10/2026

A school principal contacted Hunua Bird Life about magpies swooping and attacking children at the school and surrounding areas. As a native bird rescue our knowledge is limited, and I asked Niki Hastings, magpie specialist and rescuer, for help. The following are some of the things we learnt -

Swooping tends to be annual around August - October, which is their breeding season. Some male birds become highly protective of their young, and this may last 2-4 weeks.

Kids usually stay away from the area where the magpies are swooping. Chasing the birds or throwing stones will make the birds more defensive and the behaviour worse. Running away, waving arms or shouting, however understandable, is not recommended. It's best to walk at normal pace and maintain eye contact with the bird, which is hard for a child. In the community, people can wear a hat, bike helmet or carry an umbrella as a barrier against swooping birds.

The school used a magpie distress call during break times in an effort to scare them off. Unfortunately the opposite happened, which explains why this had become such an issue. Magpies gathered in unusually high numbers to try and help the troubled bird or to find out who the interloper was. Distress calls are often used by trappers to lure them into a trap. The calls stressed young children too!

Niki recommended that the school stop the distress calls and feed the magpies a little boiled egg away from the school grounds for a couple of weeks to teach them that people can be kind, defensive behaviour is not needed and to offer them new memories and hopefully long term behavioural change.

After the school holidays the students will be wearing sun hats. The use of the field changed to allow children to play at a distance from the swooping area. The breeding season will be finishing soon. And, to share their new knowledge, the school will be introducing a learning unit on magpies!

Thank you Niki for your support and help, as always :)

17/10/2026

Bridgette – then and now ❤️

From a tiny rescued chick to a beautiful, independent bird.

Bridgette arrived in our care as a newly hatched chick, tiny and completely dependent on us for warmth, food and protection.

After around seven weeks in care, she was soft-released a couple of days ago. Plovers are naturally wild birds that don't generally adapt well to captivity, so it was wonderful to see her take off and fly into the distance. We thought that was the last we'd see of her.

But she came back that evening, waiting at the aviary door to be let in. And she's been doing the same thing ever since!

This is part of the soft-release process. Rather than releasing a rehabilitated bird and expecting it to manage entirely on its own from day one, soft release allows it to gradually adjust to life in the wild while still having access to a familiar, safe place.

It's not unusual for birds to return to their release site for shelter or food during this transition. As they become more confident and independent, those visits may become less frequent until eventually they stop returning.

For now, Bridgette spends her days flying freely, exploring and hunting for her own food, before returning to her aviary when she's ready.

One day she might not come back. And that's exactly what we're working towards. ❤️

11/10/2026

This juvenile kereru arrived a month ago. It had an unforgiving strike with a window, poor thing. The kind rescuers took the bird to Franklin Vets in Waiuku, where I collected it. We stayed in regular contact for updates and pictures, and the rescuers expressed a desire to ultimately return the bird to it's whanau.

The kereru had 2 main injuries. It's crop was sore from the impact and it intially regurgitated all its food. The bird required gentle hydration and feeding, starting with liquid feeds. It also had a fractured chest bone, the coracoid, and it was on cage rest for a few weeks to let it heal.

A couple of days ago it moved to the aviary, which is always a bit nerve wrecking as it is uncertain whether it will be able to fly. After a few trials which went south, it is building up muscle strength again and flying beautifully. If all continues to go well it can be reunited with it's flock soon!

09/10/2026

Hunua Bird Life is now on INSTAGRAM!

Feel free to jump over and give us a follow - https://www.instagram.com/hunuabirdlife/

Hunua Bird Life is a 100% volunteer organisation, so if there's anyone you know in the community not on Facebook please feel free to share this with them.

All support and aroha is deeply appreciated 💚🐦

04/10/2026

Tūī was found in Clevedon. It was immobile, laying on the ground, without obvious injuries.

The rescuer was convinced the precious bird would not make it. She thankfully took it to Franklin Vets in Papakura, who hydrated it with electrolytes and contacted Hunua Bird Life. The hydration brought life back into this manu / bird, however it remained unable to fly. My daughter kindly collected it and we gave it a warm brooder, wholesome food and a quiet night's sleep.

The following day it was full of beans. It was released without any difficulties to gorge itself again on kowhai and peach blossoms!

24/09/2026

With the arrival of spring and the expected busy bird season, Hūnua Bird Life needs your help!

🤸‍♂️We are looking for people who share our vision and want to volunteer at our facility. If you are 15 years or older and have a couple of hours to spare every third week or so, we would love to hear from you!!

There are other ways you can help:

🐁 Trap mice and put them in the freezer for us to feed ruru and kōtare (from poison free homes)

⛺️ Support our market stall by crocheting native birds (patterns available), donating plants, flower bulbs, or second-hand items with a bird theme

🫛Donate towards a cabin / bird hospital, food and medication

As you may know, Hūnua Bird Life has no independent source of income. Our finances come straight from you, the public. Please consider a regular donation, and message your details for a receipt and tax refund:

Hunua Bird Life Charitable Trust 12-3031-0313046-00

Feel free to contact us on 021 08910021

Thank you so much for your ongoing support! 🐦

12/09/2026

12/09/2026

🎊 Party time 🎊
Hunua Bird Life has been looking after birds for 10 years 🎊

Thank you so much for your support over the years!!! We can not do what we do without your help

Most importantly, thank you to the compassionate people who rescue and bring in birds in need 🎖

Our heartfelt thanks go out to:
# Veterinary care - Janine, Eckhard, Calico, Avian Empire
# Volunteers - Kim, Emma, Cristin, Blaze, Jewels, Terry
# Trustees - Rachel, Willow, Melle, Marleen
# Market support - Lenny, Haydn, Blaze, Melle, Hugh, Creative Critters (jewelry)
# Like minded people - Rami, Nikki, Jane, Kim and others at South Auckland Rescue Birds; rescuers like Lynne Miller Wild Ways Education, Karen Native Bird Rescue - Waiheke Island , Tom Native Nest Nz , Mieke Kūoatunu, Rashi BirdCare Aotearoa and many others

And all the other special people who:
* Trap mice (from poison free homes)
* Crochet birds (to sell at the market)
* Donate second hand items with a bird theme (to sell)
* Donate plants and flower bulbs for the market
* Donate towards a cabin / bird hospital
* Offer a financial donation towards food and medicine

As you may know, Hunua Bird Life has no independent source of income; our finances come straight from you, the public.
Bank account: Hunua Bird Life Charitable Trust 12- 3031- 0313046- 00

Further offers of support are welcome and needed! Feel free to give me a call and discuss how you can help - 021 08910021. I'm happy to share crochet patterns, just saying ;) 🎊