Impact

BEAUTIFUL ENDANGERED EGGS MAKING A COMEBACK NOW

White Herons Nesting. Photo courtesy of Coasting NZ.

Courtesy of Coasting NZ. White Herons Nesting.

WHITE HERON TOURS

White Heron Nature Tours will take you through the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve in New Zealand. The only way to access this area is by boat.

You’ll trek through the Kahikatea Rainforest where you’ll find a special viewing area to see magnificent White Herons (Egretta Alba Modesta)(Kotuku in Maori). This species is rare and considered sacred among the Maori tribes. There are only about 200 of these birds still in existence. They have only one breeding site where you can see their nests and their beautiful eggs.

Thanks to efforts by the Reserve, the white heron is making a beautiful comeback.

The Royal Spoonbill and the Little Shag also share this special area and all can easily be seen.

PANDEMONIUM AVIARIES

Pandemonium Aviaries is one of the largest non-companion bird sanctuaries in the United States, providing a home for 350 birds in 34 species.

One of its flagship programs is conservation breeding for 6 endangered species endemic to New Guinea and the Philippines.

Pandemonium is dedicated to preventing the extinction of targeted avian species through conservation and education. The sanctuary was started in 1996 as a bird rescue effort by Michele Raffin.

About 10% of bird species are expected to go extinct in this century, and island birds like those Pandemonium targets, are among the most at risk. Compounding the forces that are making survival difficult is the fact that most island birds only lay one egg at a time.

Pandemonium has selected six endangered species from New Guinea and the Philippines to breed:

Pandemonium's breeding philosophy is that eggs should be hatched and offspring reared by their parents. They do everything they can to make this possible. However, sometimes eggs or chicks are abandoned and in situations like this they try to intervene.

At Pandemonium, every egg and chick receives the most advanced monitoring and care to ensure survival.

While there are many success stories, many eggs and babies do not survive because of Pandemonium's limited nursery equipment. Your generous contribution will help purchase additional incubators and desperately needed nursery equipment to help the smallest of their flocks.

In addition to their conservation breeding program, Pandemonium offers lifelong bird care and education for the public about bird needs and conservation.

The facility has grown organically through the years. It is beautiful to see and experience, both visually and spiritually. With benches and chairs in key viewing places painted to match the birds, and beautiful mosaic pathways, its no wonder the birds feel right at home in this faux tropical paradise.

Unfortunately, however, they no longer allow outside visitors, to add further protection for the birds. But luckily you can still check out the beautiful birds on one of Pandemonium’s many webcams.

And, check out the sanctuary’s new book, The Birds of Pandemonium detailing their history, including stories of individual birds they’ve saved. It makes a beautiful read.

“We have living art in the form of colorful birds, music in the form of cooing birds, and a sense of the divine in the simple, everyday existence of living close to birds.”

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