Finally revealed by DU transmitters Last issue I introduced Australasian bitterns, a rare, secretive wetland bird that often lives within a stones’ throw of people’s houses – yet only the lucky few who spend time in wetlands know this species exists! As our  bittern is the rarest in the world, we have  several reasons to be…

It is looking like another record year of ducklings being produced with hopefully 39 being released. Peacock Springs with 18, Mt Bruce with 16 and Orana with five. Could have been more but you can never count your ducklings till you have them on the ground.   It is really great to see more ducklings…

There were 16 Whio ducklings hatched this  season at Mt Bruce. One of our team, Tara, has taken this delightful photo of the latest clutch of whio to hatch at Pukaha this season. These ducklings spent a few weeks here and then were sent to a ‘hardening unit’ at Turangi to ensure that they will…

Before human settlement (from around 1250–1300 AD), freshwater wetlands covered about 670,000 hectares of New Zealand. Now it is 89,000 ha – a loss of 90 percent. Fertile lowland swamps have been lost in greater numbers than those that were infertile or at high altitudes. Wetland importance is often under-rated. Groups like our own DU,…