Saturday 18 May - Some more Harriers Banded

 My Brother set the Harrier traps with a variety of bait on Friday evening. On Saturday morning I received a call that a Harrier had gone into one. By the time I made the journey to the site there were two birds in the trap. These were duly processed including a DOC metal band on the right leg and a numbered colour band on the left. We left the traps set and went on a bit of a Tiki Tour of the Coopers Lagoon & Lake Ellesmere area where recent huge swells have done immense damage, just about wiping out the protective shingle beach allowing the sea to overtop the beach and enter the lagoon.

After an hour or so we again checked the traps and found Harriers in two of them. These were also duly processed making four for the day. By far the best days catch we have had and very pleasing.

This bird will hopefully now on be known as Red 105

The first bird caught held by my Bro. who is the designer and manufacturer of the traps we are using. He is also becoming a handy handler of Harriers.

 One of the birds caught was a youngster, clearly shown by the brown eye and plumage. Contrast this with the bird held in the top photo.

Sun 22 May - Some Timaru Rehab Raptors Banded

 On my way back from Dunedin after watching a Grandson graduate I stopped off in Timaru. The purpose was to check out the NZ Raptor Trusts operation and see if birds about to be released were suitable for banding. We banded five birds, 2 Harriers and 3 Little Owls that are all progressing well towards release. Jenni and Angie who are very involved in the birds rehabilitation are keen to obtain a Raptor permit so that the majority of birds can be banded prior to going back into the wild. This is something I am very much in favour of and hope to assist them achieve this. There were two birds that we did not band, a Harrier with an infected wing that might not make the journey back to the wild and a Little owl that is blind in one eye. This bird is the subject of some discussion as to whether it should be released or not.

One of the Harriers originated in Fairlie and we are not likely to encounter it up in our area but the other came from Burnham and will be released back there so it is possible that we might catch up with it again.

The first Harrier banded (named Victor) after banding, possibly wondering what was that all about.

(They give all their birds names)

Angie banding her first Owl, Joey

Joey with the new bling.

The first Owl Banded named Iggy

Halswell Quarry Wed 18 May - all new birds

 Our session at the Quarry on Wednesday morning was reasonably successful, with 19 new birds banded. There were no recaptures made which is a bit surprising as there have been several hundred birds banded in this area in the last few years.

The new birds were - Silvereye 8, House Sparrow 5, Greenfinch 4, Song Thrush 1, There was also a Grey Warbler colour banded as part of Laura's study.

Della with one of the Greenfinch

Vanessa with the Song Thrush.

Another Harrier Banded

In the afternoon I did a country visit. This was mostly a social visit to relatives but I had also arranged for my brother to set Harrier traps. This proved successful and I was able to band another Harrier. As our colour bands had arrived from Canada in the last few days I was also able to colour band this bird. So as well as carrying a bright new metal band it has a Red one with a White  number on the other leg. 

Yesterday's bird, although a female with the yellow eye of an adult, was noticeably darker than the one banded at this site recently and was  probably younger.

The new bird's bling which includes a bit of colour

Some Raptors and a couple of Kingfishers

 After months of frustrating delays, due to Covid and other issues, on Tuesday we finally had a trial run with our newly developed Harrier trap. Although we were only successful in banding one bird it was a very useful  trial and another attempt will hopefully be made soon.

Tuesday's Harrier, an adult female

Today Thursday, I went to the South Island Wildlife Hospital at Willowbank to band some rehab birds. It was planned to band a Harrier and a Little Owl. As it turned out there was a second Harrier and two Kingfishers as well as the Little Owl. I thought it was a very successful visit, the first of hopefully many more.

The bright eyed Little Owl

One of the rehab Harries both of which were male.