Māori believed the Sacred Kingfisher/Kāreke could foretell the future. If someone heard the Kāreke cry to their left, bad luck lay ahead; if they heard the cry on the right, it brought good luck.
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Stay up-to-date with the latest news on our patients. Explore our posts and learn more about our work and the incredible animals we've rescued.
SIWH AGM
When: Tuesday 4th November 3:30pm
Venue: Tuatara Structures, 10B Abros Place, Burnside, Christchurch
🔊 The trills of the kea. We currently have 8 kea under care at present. Kea are incredibly intelligent and combating their boredom is just as important as the medical care they need to treat their health conditions. Our aviary space offers them the opportunity to fly, forage, and play while keeping them accessible for regular treatments.
Supporters like Topflite through their Soar Initiative, help us care for these and other native birds.
Demands on the hospital continue to grow and our longterm goal includes a larger hospital and more aviary spaces. If you, or your organisation can help support our work and goals, head to wildlifehospital.co.nz/become-a-sponsor/
#kea #birdsofaotearoa #nzbirds #wildlifehospital #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less
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Are the kea being treated for lead poisoning?
Is that an “I’m bored” call?
The good people of Hot Water Shop Christchurch will be donating $10 to the hospital for every environmentally friendly heat pump system they install.Our friends at Gree New Zealand donate $10 to Birdcare Aotearoa each time they sell a WHIO heat pump system. The whio is the native duck on our $10 bill!
So, we've decided to match this by donating $10 to South Island Wildlife Hospital with every environmentally-friendly heat pump system we install! The SIWH do great work here in Canterbury! ... See MoreSee Less
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Ruru or Chewbacca? 🤔
This Morepork arrived at the hospital in April with injuries to their eyes and cloaca. The cloaca is the bird equivalent of the anus, although it is really a combined opening that serves the genital tract and the digestive tract.
It is not clear how the bird came to be injured but they were found at the side of the road, so being hit by a car is a possibility. Although initially there was great concern for the ruru's vision, after 6 weeks of care, the morepork was confirmed to be able to hunt and fly well. The manu was able to be released back into the wild at the week#Ruru##moreporke#birdsofaotearoae#wildlifehospitalp#southislandwildlifehospitalpital ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations on the release. Thank you. Great photo
Rawe o koutou mahi! Fly Ruru Fly!
Trudi Wilson there’s our wee treasure we released ❤️❤️
Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust
Thanks to supporters like Forest & Bird - North Canterbury we have been able to take care of multiple kea that have presented over the last few months with the effects of lead poisoning. Kea are intelligent birds that love to explore novel items in their environment. For birds, this often involves eating things they shouldn't.
Despite a ban on lead in many commercial products, historic sources such as paints and fixtures still exist in the backcountry. Thanks to the efforts of organisations such as Kea Conservation Trust , Backcountry Trust Aotearoa/New Zealand , and Department of Conservation , environmental lead is being targeted to help keep these charismatic birds safe.
Our patients may undergo several procedures to help us diagnose their illness, such as blood tests and x-rays. The latter requires an anaesthetic to allow positioning which in this case, shows off the beautiful green and orange colour combo that this species is famous for.
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We should ban lead fishing weights as they have in the Uk to protect swans.
Do they check for 1080 at the same time?
I’ve seen them having a good hard look at a pile of flour with some cyanide a DOC contractor had just put down. I chased it away but it probably came back. I bet they peck at 1080 too. This was above kinloch by lake Wakatipu. Anecdotally 20 years ago there were heaps up by the Remarkables and Coronet peak. Haven’t seen any lately.
They have been known to pull lead head nails of old huts in past
Sadly beautiful in colour. They peck at tyre's too. That's not healthy eating rubber.
Gosh those splashes of orange are gorgeous. Wish there was some way of teaching Kea that rubber is not a good food option
At least the lead doesn't hurt them as much as the 1080 though 👏
Sadly many more are victims to cereal 1080
Kea are highly inquisitive and eat all sort of things they shouldn't and yet DOC wants us to believe that they never ever ingest 1080.
Lead or 1080??
Thank you & all your team for the care given.These are fantastic birds so full of fun .
Another wonderful intervention to save our birdlife.
Tens of thousands of rounds of lead buckshot have been used on tahr and deer culls for many years in kea environments, it will be there forever unlike lead head nails and lead flashings which can be removed
What about they infamous 1080 that they eat !! 🥴
Tyre wheel weights ?
The main cause is buck shot used by DOC in their culling operations to protect the keas but the keas then pick the lead pellets out of the dead carcases and poison themselves
Fantastic the mahi that you do. Thankyou.
Thanks for the work you do.
For one awful moment I was thinking lead shot was the cause. Never really thought about lead nails or paints. Poor wee Kea. Thanks for people bringing then in for help.
Do kea eat carrion?
Hostel Derry
☀️🖕
More die from feral cats and 1080 poison than from eating huts and cat parts
Wow. Imagine an alien beams you up and performs an incomprehensible procedure on you to try and remedy some super-poison they left in your house!
How many have they killed with there 1080
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The last couple of months have been all about the Hutton's Shearwaters. The hospital has had up to 13 of these Kaikōura tītī at any one time, an occurrence that happens annually after the juveniles have fledged and gained independence. Several have already returned to the wild with a few individuals still under care.
As with any seabird, maintaing feather quality for waterproofing is an important part of rehabilitation. Even the oils on our own skin can be enough to disrupt this so these birds need careful handling with gloves and fleeces. Getting into the pool each day is always a good opportunity to observe some of their self-care behavio#kaikōuratītīa#huttonsshearwaterw#nzbirdsb#wildlifehospitalp#southislandwildlifehospitalpital ... See MoreSee Less
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Man that must feel good!
Fascinating. I've never seen one.
Gorgeous! 😍 Looks like the Hutton’s Shearwater version of ‘The fast and the furious’!
Peekaboo...
#kea #birdsofaotearoa #wildliferehabilitation #wildlifehospital #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less
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The first quarter of 2026 saw us admit a lot of shags. In the first 3 months of the year, 35 spotted shags came through our doors. Most of these kawau tikitiki were juveniles in an underweight condition. Juvenile starvation is a common problem in some seabird populations due to difficulties for parents and newly fledged individuals to find enough food. This starvation leads onto other health conditions which can quicken their demise.
Affected individuals can spend weeks in care recuperating. After initial intensive care in the hospital, recovering birds get more space in an aviary ahead of release. We are able to care for patients like these thanks to the generosity of donors and sponsors such as Yondi Foundation .
#charity #spottedshag #kawautikitiki #wildlifehospital #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less
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It's of great concern food sources are disappearing. More marine reserves free from.fishing could help . Warming oceans we can't reverse yet but fishing we can
Followers in New Zealand will know that today is ANZAC day, a day to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who fought and gave their life in war.
Globally, it is also World Penguin Day and World Veterinary Day. 13 of the 18 species of penguin are found in New Zealand territories, and 4 species are endemic to New Zealand, being found nowhere else. We regularly receive sick and injured penguins at the hospital, predominantly kororā. Whether juveniles or moulting adults, we get to see some funky fuzz-dos, such as with this little blue which looks like it is wearing a cloak.
The hospital is grateful to our vets Pauline, Micah and Fiona for the long days they put in looking after the patients, and no doubt the penguins appreciate feeling better after their care (even if their biting tendencies would suggest otherwise!).
#WorldPenguinDay #WorldVeterinaryDay #birdsofaotearoa #wildlifehospital #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less
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She/he is a gorgeous little fluff bum. Thank you for being there.
It's not often these birds are seen, either at the hospital or in the wild. Marsh crakes are shy and elusive birds that are easily hidden by the tall vegetation next to wetlands where they reside.
This kotoreke was brought to a home by a cat. Upon presentation at the hospital, a bite wound was found on the head. Cat bites can be difficult to see through the feathers but have the potential to drive bacteria deep into the body. Luckily, treatment was successful, and the individual was able to be released back to the wild.
This Earth Day you can find out how to help the planet and its inhabitants (human and non-human) by learning what impacts your lifestyle has: from the pollution and climate impacts of your daily routines; to the conservation impacts of your consumer choices; and the environmental impacts of how you recreate and what pets you keep. This year's theme is "Our Power, Our Planet". Knowing your footprint is the first step to identify what changes you can make for the better.
#earthday #marshcrake #kotoreke #nzbirds #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less
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I was lucky enough to see one at my local wetlands few months ago. They are much tinier than I expected! Special little birds 🤎
Didn't you folks put ferals on the Hit list?
Poor wee bird. I haven't seen any here. I'm concerned alot of blackbird have disappeared x my area. Lots of cats and dogs around. Soft feathers on lawn the other day. Hardly any wear bell collars.
Amazing! And how wonderful that it healed and was able to be released. Would have been a shock to have the cat bring a crake in!! Those huge feet look so delicate and elegant
What a special little bird - hanging out in his camouflage crate
Cats need to be kept inside during their witching hour of the hunt, our precious taonga deserve protection
We need laws about keeping cats confined to their owner's properties.
Wise words in world planet day. Thank you #flylesskiwis
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