Hūnua Bird Life
FAQ
Found a bird in trouble?
Not every bird that appears to be in trouble actually needs rescuing - sometimes it's best not to interfere. See Flock Birdcare Wellington's guide for when to intervene.
Have a look at Flock Birdcare Wellington’s bird rescue guide for detailed instructions.
Carefully place it in a ventilated box in a warm, dark and quiet spot.
When you transport it to a vet/rehabilitator, make sure to secure the box with a seatbelt.
Different species of birds have different care requirements and rehabilitation options. It is important to establish the type of bird before planning your next step.
If you aren’t sure what kind of bird you have, try having a look at the New Zealand Birds Online website, using the Merlin ID App, or post a picture in the New Zealand Bird Identification Facebook Group.
If it’s a native species, it's illegal to rehabilitate it without a DOC permit.
If it’s a non-native species, you are allowed to care for it yourself. You should take it to a rehabilitation center if you can though, because sick/injured birds usually require highly specialized care.
Please check Avian Empire’s NZ bird health map to find a rescue in your area.
If the bird is native, you can also contact DOC for guidance.
Birds attacked by cats need antibiotics to recover, even if no wounds are visible. Please take the bird to a rehabilitation center or vet as soon as possible.
Carefully place it in a ventilated box in a warm, dark and quiet spot. After an hour, take the box outside and open it to see if the bird flies away. If it doesn’t, leave it in the box overnight and try again in the morning. If it still doesn’t fly away, take it to your nearest rehabilitation center or vet.
Don’t attempt to give the bird food or water, it just needs to rest.
There are some situations in which the fire department can help out.
Please phone the non-emergency number of your local fire station.
The H5N1 high pathogenicity strain of avian influenza has not yet been recorded in New Zealand, but if you find three or more sick/injured birds together you should avoid touching them, and report it straight away.
Please phone the MPI exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66 and provide them the following information:
A GPS reading or other precise location information
Photographs and videos of sick and dead birds
Species name and estimate of the numbers affected
How many are sick or freshly dead, and the total number of birds present
Here is the link to their website for more information.
Wondering about Hūnua Bird Life?
We take adult birds of the following species:
- Kererū (woodpigeon)
- Ruru (morepork)
- Kōtare (kingfisher)
- Pīwakawaka (fantail)
- Riroriro (grey warbler)
- Tauhou (silvereye)
- Tūī
- Kākā
If it’s one of the species we admit, and we have the capacity and capability, absolutely!
But you do need to contact us in advance to check that we have space, and so that we know you’re coming. Please see the contact page for our phone number, address and opening hours.
No sorry, birds must be dropped off to us directly.
No, admission is free.
You can give a koha if you would like, but there is no pressure to.
Yes, Hunua Bird Life works with Avian Empire and Veterinary Associates Takanini.
Yes, Hūnua Bird Life is permitted for the species on our admission list. Our permit number is 82549-FAU.
Yes, Hūnua Bird Life is a registered Charitable Trust (CC62722).
We are funded almost exclusively through private donations.
No, our time is donated.
The only exception is if we contract someone for specialized work that we cannot do ourselves, such as design work and some veterinary procedures.
Wondering how to protect your backyard birds?
Birds can’t really see glass, so injuries from colliding with windows are common. When this happens we call it ‘window strike’.
Window strike incidence is increasing due to tinted windows, tougher glazing, high-rise buildings and new builds in open spaces.
Factors that increase the likelihood of window strike are the mirroring factor (how much light reflects off the glass), and when a bird can look into a building and see the outdoors through an opposing window (it looks like a clear flight path through).
By doing something to your windows that makes them visible to birds.
Our recommendation is to add closely spaced markings on the glass using a chalk pen or stick-on decals.
For additional information please see Merlin’s window strike guide.
By making it the kind of place birds want to be!
We recommend planting a variety of food-producing native plants, and trapping for predators. Here are links to a bird-attracting planting guide, and a guide to backyard trapping.
We generally recommend against feeding of wild birds.
While feeding them is enjoyable (and they seem to appreciate it), it can have many detrimental effects. Instead, we suggest planting native vegetation that birds can feed from, and predator trapping. This will attract birds and provide them with nourishment, without harming their health.
The exception is feeding sugar water during the winter months - but only if you are diligent about doing it right. Here is a link to Predator Free NZ’s feeding guide.
Human food provides little to no nutritional value to birds, acting primarily as 'empty calories' or filler. It lacks essential protein, vitamins, and minerals, and can lead to severe malnutrition, obesity, developmental issues or death.
Feeding birds alters their behaviour, and can cause them to become dependent on humans. It allows populations to grow to unsustainable levels that are likely to starve if feeding ceases. Large flocks of human-dependent birds also become a public nuisance, which puts the birds at risk of poisoning and other control measures.
Bird feeding sites can spread avian diseases if they aren’t routinely cleaned and disinfected. Putting food in waterways also increases the risk of Avian Botulism and overgrowth of algae.
Cats are estimated to kill as many as 100 million birds every year in New Zealand.
Aotearoa has an estimated 1.2 million companion cats, 200,000 stray cats and millions of feral cats.
In addition to threatening wildlife, outdoor cats are also at increased risk of infectious diseases, predation, car strikes, catnapping and getting lost.
Here are some guides from Predator Free NZ and the Department of Conservation about being a responsible cat owner.