The Accipiter - Online magazine from The Hawk Conservancy Trust

February 2006

I was lucky enough to spend Christmas and New Year with my family in New Zealand, where it is high summer. However the tan is now fast fading along with memories of the beach and barbeque.

One of the highlights of my holiday was a memorable afternoon at New Zealand’s only bird of prey centre, the Wingspan Bird of Prey Trust in Rotorua (north island), which became a charitable trust in 1992 and was opened to the public a little over a year ago. Manager Debbie Stewart has been a falconer for some 20 years and has been involved with Wingspan since its inception.

Like the Hawk Conservancy, Wingspan’s primary objective is the conservation of raptors, along with research, rehabilitation and education. New Zealand only has three native species of raptor, all of which are on view at the park (Little Owls were introduced early last century to the south island, but at least three other native or endemic species are now extinct).

Sky the Australasian Harrier

On arrival at the centre we saw an Australasian Harrier taking off from the paddock next to the car park with a chick which had obviously been put out for her (we later discovered that she is called Skyhawk - Sky for short - and was released three years ago but still comes back to feed every day and has raised young each year). We were warmly greeted and offered cups of tea, coffee and hot chocolate. There was time to look around the static displays and the ten aviaries, which are all viewed from an undercover walkway that is beautifully landscaped with native plants and water features.

There is a daily flying display, currently with two New Zealand Falcons, although Sky took the opportunity to join in for a short while too. The flying arena is spectacularly set in a farming valley with a steep wooded hill to one side and the Falcons take full advantage of this to go off in search of local wild birds to chase, before stooping at great speed back down over the tree line to the bottom of the valley and their reward.

Debbie Stewart with NZ Falcon 'Diamond'

Debbie talked to the audience about the Falcons while she was flying them, including introducing the lure, and both of the birds flew straight back into their own aviaries at the end of their displays.

I would recommend a visit to The Wingspan Bird of Prey Trust as part of a trip to Rotorua, which also has many other attractions, including another important centre called Kiwi Encounter - a conservation centre for the country’s national bird.

Wingspan’s website address with more information about the centre is www.wingspan.co.nz.

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