Wingspan Two Years Later
Wingspan rests atop rolling hills just outside Rotorua township, and it is a haven for kārearea, as well as other New Zealand birds of prey, such as the kahu, the ruru and our newest arrival, the Australian barn owl.
I am a massive bird nerd. Or perhaps the more technical term is a twitcher. Whatever the term you want to label me with - one simple fact remains. I love birds. Wingspan is thus my Disneyland of sorts. But, rather than throwing up on a roller coaster shaped like Mickey Mouse’s ears, I could witness a kārearea dive bombing two duck wings attached to a stick. Every girl’s dream.
Wingspan at the moment is not open to the public at large - and access is appointment only on Thur-Sat. During these appointments, you have this wonderful opportunity to meet the birds of prey and witness a flying display with the kārearea.
I visited Wingspan for the second time last weekend. And I am still ecstatic. I always feel like I am riding a high when I return from a visit. I have likened Wingspan to my version of Disneyland, but with less vomit and lines. It is though one of my happiest places on Earth - being the home to beautiful birds.
So, this weekend we packed the car, charged the cameras and hit the road to Rotorua.
On arrival, we were greeted like old friends. The people here are basically the friendliest humans in existence and it is always a pleasure to rock on up and be met with their smiley faces. We were led to the best seats of the house; the wooden plank directly in front of the stage so to speak. I am anal about booking things well in advance - but hey, sometimes my neurotic tendencies pay off.
Arohaki
And soon the stars of the show arrived - the kārearea or the New Zealand Falcons. First to the floor was Arohaki, a male kārearea. Arohaki spent most of his time with us giving out free scalp massages to the audience, as he delighted in perching on everyone's heads. After a good round of head scratching, Arohaki took to the sky. Diving and swooping for his prize, which was two duck wings on a lure. This he eventually conquered, absconding his prize from view by closing his wings around it like two heavy curtains. Because, to his eyes - we may want to steal a nibble or two.
Next out was Ribbon, a female karearea. She was a lot larger than Arohaki, as males are around a third smaller than females. She awed the audience by taking down a robotic magpie, a drone that was made to look like a magpie, with a mad chase that could have featured in any action flick. And last out in the karearea gang was Shadow, the rebellious teenager of the group. And like any teenager, she was very focussed on the food. I must be a perpetual teenager - as food still takes up a good portion of my thinking now.
Ribbon
There is something awe-inspiring about watching a kārearea fly. They are the fighter jets of the bird world - sleek and fast. The kārearea is capable of flying at speeds over 100 km/h, and can catch prey larger than itself. They can even catch a hare. A hare can be 60cm long and weigh up to 4kg, compared to a female kārearea who is around 40 cm and 50 cm long, and can weigh between 410 g and 720 g. That is an insane feat for the kārearea. There is a lot of power behind those talons.
Ribbon
Once Shadow had sulked off, Wingspan had a few more surprises up their sleeves. Out came a bright eyed Kahu and an Australian Barn Owl, named Jarli. The Kahu was beautiful, all grey eyed and wild. When a Kahu ages, their feathers and eyes lighten. Unfortunately in New Zealand, they are not fully protected being on schedule three of the Wildlife Act. This means that they can be shot by hunters, landowners and DOC with the proper permission.
Kahu
Most people are familiar with Kahu in New Zealand. But only as that softy swooping figure high in the sky as you drive along the country roads of New Zealand. Seeing one up close is another story. Their are a powerful bird to behold and do not deserve the kind of persecution that they have endured both now and in the past.
Kahu
The Australian Barn Owl is our newest native arrival here in New Zealand, with them establishing breeding sites in Kaitaia in 2008. They have this awesome ability to turn their heads a full 270 degrees - meaning not much gets past them. Their call is apparently quite chilling - with some countries nicknaming this bird the death owl because of its hair raising screeches. Jarfi was a beautiful bird - watching all in the audience with a curious look on her face. Being named Athena - and with my namesake having an owl companion, I have always been fascinated with owls. So, getting the chance to meet one in person was the icing on the cake.
If you wish, you also get the chance to hold a kārearea on your arm. They will provide you with a glove and he or she will perch there for a hot second. Before they race off again to swoop or simply search for more chicken bits.
Me two years ago with Shadow
I am always wary about animal tourism. I love animals and hate to see their exploitation. So when I am traveling and want to partake in eco-tourism or anything animal related, I first do a lot of research. And I can hand on my heart say, Wingspan is a great place to see New Zealand Birds of Prey and learn about them in a safe and compassionate way. There is no exploitation in sight.
This is information being provided so we know more about these awesome creatures. This is the future of the kārearea, which has a population of only between 5,000–8,000 birds. That is less than our national bird of the Kiwi. So, go along. Learn lots and have a close encounter of a kārearea kind. The birds are not here for the audience, rather we are here for the birds.