Birds on a plane
AN Air New Zealand flight from Christchurch to Wellington recently transported special guests in the form of five critically endangered birds.
The shore plovers, also known as tuturuatu to the locals, were flown during New Zealand’s level four lockdown where non-essential businesses were closed and borders were closed.
The survival of these birds is essential, said New Zealand Department of Conservation ecologist Dave Houston.
“They are not shy. They rush up to interesting things, like predators, to say hello. And they strongly defend their territories.
“When tuturuatu get older, they become like ‘aggressive teenagers’. With that come stress-related illnesses, so these teenagers needed their space,” he said, adding that the shore plover is “a little bird with attitude”.
The Air New Zealand flight was the third attempt at moving tuturuatu from wildlife parks, such as Christchurch’s Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust, where they are reared, to a place safe enough for them to continue growing.
That place was Mana Island, a predator-free sanctuary off Wellington’s west coast, where other birds had been transported to earlier in the year.
During the flight, the birds were cared for by the cabin crew.
Upon arrival at Wellington Airport, the birds were transported to the coast, where they hopped on a ferry and made their way to their new home.
Houston said it’s about getting the birds to adapt to the new normal and convincing them to adopt their new habitat.
“Getting the first few birds to stick is the hardest part,” he said. – Chester Chin