The aviaries and cages in the backyard of Ngaio resident Karin Wiley are a godsend for native birds
The aviaries and cages in the backyard of Ngaio resident Karin Wiley are a godsend for native birds. As part of the Native Bird Rescue Wellington Trust around 300 to 350 injured birds arrive at Mrs Wiley?s door every year. The seasons dictate when an influx of one species will arrive and it?s currently the Tui?s ?very aggressive and emotional? mating season. ?They have this rivalry for territory where they lose all sense of self safety; they just go flying into cars, windows, branches. ?They are really hell-bent on not having other Tui in their territory,? Mrs Wiley says. Birds mainly arrive with injuries such as broken wings and legs. Last week saw arrivals from Manguraki, Plimmerton and... Families often become emotionally attached to a bird they bring in and check-up on up the rehabilitation, which can last months. ?The number of birds arriving is increasing every year, every week there are Tui, Kereru. ?I won?t release a bird until I know it is going to survive,? she says. Possum eradication over the past few years has seen ?the void of native birds filled? forcing her aviaries to constantly be aflutter. The Karori sanctuary plays a part in building up Kaka and Hihi populations, but the Greater Wellington Regional Council and DOC campaigns are mostly to thank, she says. ?They have been extremely successful with the possum programme. ?Within three weeks of baiting behind my place the bush was full of Tui,? Mrs Wiley says. The reduced possum threat has allowed regional forests to keep seasonal growth and complete the lifecycle needed support native birds. The Kereru is one success story; no longer on the regions threatened species list. A Ngaio resident for 30 years, Mrs Wiley fascination?s with birds began when she brought ?pink little scraps of birds? inside off the road and ?attempted unsuccessfully rear them back to health?. She links the survival of individual birds to a well functioning ecosystem, such as the seed of the Tawa tree that has to pass through the gut of a Kereru before it can germinate. ?It?s the total picture as well as the individual cases, you can?t isolate any of it,? she says. Native Bird Rescue Wellington Trust relies on donations to carry out their work. For more information visit www.birdrescue.org.nz. To contact Karin phone 479 2936 or , or email
