Grey warblers are visiting regularly, and we have a few resident tui and bellbirds whose population we aim to increase by improving all year round food availability with careful species selection and providing nesting sites through trees like kanuka (Kunzea). We will be planting more kowhai (Sophora), kotukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata), harakeke (Phormium) and early fruiting Coprosma sp. such as dumosa and lucida. We already have a winter food source in the form of the old farm shelterbelts of Eucalypts and Grevillea victoriae that we have planted.
We recently released a juvenile hawk or swamp harrier (Circus approximans) that we caught incapacitated and unable to fly near the nursery. It’s possible he was suffering from some form of secondary poisoning (either lead or pindone), which is unfortunately common in juveniles and a side effect of the amount of rabbit control which is necessary in this area. Luckily he still had a hearty appetite and after a few days confined regaining his strength he was able to fly away without any issues. Big thanks to Remarkable Vets and Alan at Avian Rescue Otago for their advice.
Important to note, like all raptors a hawk cannot be successfully rehabbed in a cage and a DOC Permit is required to hold them in captivity. We were lucky in this case that this guy recovered on his own and did not require transfer to a rehab. Any raptor confined for more than a couple of days will see it’s health quickly begin to decline. If you find a sick or injured bird of prey, contact Avian Rescue Otago - they even have a chelation treatment that can reverse the effects of lead poisoning.