Puny little bird with attitude the size of moa
A native New Zealand bird appeared to be quite put out despite being treated to a luxurious spa treatment at a Palmerston North rehabilitation centre this week.
The morepork, also known as a ruru, is one of six rehabilitation cases at Central Energy Trust Wild base Recovery. Hospital and recovery supervisor Pauline Nijman said the staff saw bacteria on the bird’s skin, and decided to give him a bubble bath.
“We wash them in a bath at 40C because that’s their body temperature and after that he has a nice wee shower to get rid of all the soap suds off his feathers.
“And then he got to sit under the driers for a few hours.”
But he didn’t seem to be particularly happy about it.
“They only weigh about 80g, they are ridiculously small, but they have the attitude of a 600kg animal.
“They’re hilarious to work with because they have so much attitude — they click and stand-up and posture, and try and tell you they are the biggest and most ferocious animal you will ever come across.”
Moreporks, or ruru, are small brown owls found in New Zealand and Tasmania. Nijman said washing them showed how slight they were.
“There’s literally nothing to them, they’re all fluff.”
She said moreporks were starting to come back into urban spaces, and encouraged the public to look out for them.
“I think people are really starting to take note and notice that they’re in their backyards, which is really cool.”