Hopes high as young falcon takes wing

NEW HABITAT: Quentin, 1 year and 4 months old, checks out his new surroundings. PHOTOS/LYNDA FERINGA

A rare bird of prey was released yesterday in Martinborough.

Quentin, a young New Zealand falcon, or karearea, took to the skies over Escarpment Vineyard joining two other falcons.

His release was part of a conservation project between the Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre in Rotorua, the Department of Conservation and the vineyard, to bring the birds back to the district, with the bonus of providing effective pest control for vineyards.

About 30 people came to see the release as well as curious female falcon, Honour, who was released there last year.

"Hopefully she's checking him out," said Andrew Thomas, a falconer for the Rotorua centre, where he raised and trained Quentin.

Mr Thomas has spent 1800 hours training the bird for release into the wild.

"It's a pretty special day, I've been working with him since he was an egg."

Quentin was rescued after his mother was found injured in the Paengaroa forest, where they are prevalent.

"We made the difficult decision to remove the eggs, raise them ourselves, allow that bird to rest, recover and heal and raise chicks the following season."

Quentin hatched in December 2013 and yesterday was his first time out in the wild.

Mr Thomas said he was a little bit nervous for the bird.

"The first year is the toughest, that's when the survival rate is the lowest."

He said Quentin was carrying some fat, which would help if he didn't catch anything in the first few days.

Mr Thomas was sad to see him go but it was also exciting.

"I'd like to think I'll see him again flying around Martinborough."

He said by September next year Honour could potentially breed with Quentin.

"He's going to look good for Honour, the young female here, that's my plan, fingers crossed."

Mr Thomas said there were only about 4500 breeding pairs of falcons left - they are rarer than kiwi.

"We are hoping with releases like this the falcon population will replenish. If we don't protect them in New Zealand they are gone forever."

Falconer Andrew Thomas holds Quentin before he is released.