New Zealand’s endemic Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) is the star of the show at Wingspan. The centre also flys the native Harrier Hawk (Circus approximans) and has on display New Zealand’s Morepork Owl (Ninox novaeseelandiae) and one of the new colonisers to this country, the Barn Owl, (Tyto alba).
New Zealand’s Falcon, or Karearea, is one of the fastest birds in the world with speeds of up to 100km/hr, and a reputation for a feisty and aggressive nature, taking on prey much larger than its 300 to 500gm body. These stunning Falcons mainly feed on small birds in the wild, but also take larger prey such as ducks weighing around a kilo.
Falcon on threatened species list
The Karearea is classified as "Near Threatened" on the IUCN's international list of threatened species, and is estimated to have a national population (of the three forms), of less than 10,000 individuals. New Zealand's Department of Conservation rates the Southern Falcon as 'nationally endangered' and the Bush Falcon and Eastern Falcon forms as 'nationally vulnerable'.
Wingspan Birds of Prey Centre is run by a non-profit, charitable Trust and is located just north of Rotorua, on Paradise Valley Road at Ngongotaha. The Trust was established to promote the conservation, research, captive management and public awareness of New Zealand’s birds of prey, and is run by falconers, Debbie Stewart and Noel Hyde. Debbie manages the Centre and staff, and Noel is chairman of the Trust, that includes Dr Laurence Barea, Chris Gay, and Dr Richard Seaton. Trust patron is “bug man” and falcon enthusiast, Dr Ruud Kleinpaste.
Open to the public for live flight displays
Wingspan has a large indoor walk-through aviary open to the public daily (9 - 3pm) where people can observe pairs of breeding falcons, the falcons used in flying displays, harriers, a pair of moreporks, and Tahi, the Barn Owl. At 2pm each day, the outdoor flying display beside the aviary shows off the birds’ natural talents and allows the public to see them in action.
Friendly staff engage the public with a talk about the raptors they are watching and at the end of the session, some lucky people can have a photo taken with one of the Falcons perched on the glove.
Children are welcomed at the Centre and the popular school educational sessions see classes visit there from throughout New Zealand and overseas. There are also behind the scenes raptor experiences available that include a tour of the breeding, research and display facilities with a Wingspan falconer.
Conservation focus on education and advocacy
The Trust’s focus is on education and advocacy, as well as research on raptors and captive management techniques, and promoting good falconry practice in New Zealand. (Falconry has only just been made legal in New Zealand with licenses now able to be applied for by experienced falconers).
The Maori principles of kaitiakitanga (or guardianship) also guide the operation of the Centre which is a celebrated tourism attraction in Rotorua.
Rehabilitation of injured raptors is a big part of the conservation ethic at Wingspan, and this includes incubation of abandoned raptor eggs and rearing of chicks, treatment of injured raptors brought into the centre, and falconry training of birds for rehabilitation before release back into the wild.
Sources:
'Wingspan' Birds of Prey Trust magazine Volume 15, 2011.
IUCN Red List of Endangered Species
Heather and Robertson, (1996), 'Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand', Penguin Books NZ.
Miskelly, C, (2008), 'Conservation Status of New Zealand Birds' in Notornis Vol 55, 117 - 153, published by OSNZ, the Ornithological Society of New Zealand.
See also article on 'Bird Watching in New Zealand - the Falcon'
