Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust founders Noel Hyde (left) and Debbie Stewart opened the Rotorua centre's new display aviaries on Friday. Photo / Andrew Warner
Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust founders Noel Hyde (left) and Debbie Stewart opened the Rotorua centre's new display aviaries on Friday. Photo / Andrew Warner
Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust cares for more than 1000 birds at its Rotorua centre each year, releasing many into the wild.
There, more than 80,000 children have had first-hand encounters with falcons such as the centre’s resident Star.
With the completion of new display aviaries and breeding chambers, the trust hopes to increase the number of birds released while educating more visitors about New Zealand’s birds of prey.
The project has cost $2.4 million to date.
Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust founder Debbie Stewart said the cost was worth it.
“That’s pretty remarkable for an independent charitable trust,” Stewart said.
“It will provide a safe environment that can be enjoyed for generations to come. With this development, we’ll be employing more staff and [will garner] more recognition for Rotorua.”
The new aviaries would mean Wingspan could house more birds in Rotorua than ever before.
“They’re specially built for birds of prey,” Stewart said.
“Up until this point, we have been relying on some satellite aviaries off-site. These new aviaries mean we can make a more concentrated effort in Rotorua.”
Stewart said the new builds also meant Wingspan could continue to house permanently injured birds while breeding more falcons for release into the wild.
“We’ll be able to look after more birds.”
Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust opened its new display aviaries to the public on Friday. Photo / Allan MacGillivray
Stewart said more than 80,000 children have held a bird of prey at the Rotorua centre, and the new facilities would help to ensure more visitors could have the same experience.
“This is also about the next generation and inspiring conservation. It’s about empathy, with the strong belief that when you see these birds, [you’ll be more likely to] look out for them in the wild.”
The display aviaries and breeding chambers began being built in April as the first two stages in a three-stage development planned for completion next year.
The Rotorua centre opened those two stages of the development to the public on Friday.
“It was so lovely to share our progress,” Stewart said.
“Stage one and two will mean so much for Wingspan. It’s going to mean we are going to be able to breed more birds and educate people about the birds as well, at world-class facilities.
