Secretive bird a welcome sign in Waitarakao
Our wallaby programme leader, Brent Glentworth, recently spotted something much rarer and far more welcome than a wallaby on the loose—a matuku-hūrepo or Australasian Bittern.
This native bird is critically threatened in Aotearoa. It’s estimated there are only 30-50 remaining in Waitaha/Canterbury, and less than 1000 across the country, in fact one estimate puts that number at less than 300!
Spotting one is a rare privilege, especially in a paddock in the Waitarakao catchment, just north of Timaru. The last reported sighting in the area was two years ago beside a drain in the Washdyke industrial area.
Bitterns blend-in to avoid detection
These large birds have mastered the art of disguise. You’re more likely to hear its deep, booming call at dusk or dawn than to see it in the wild.
They are tall and stocky with streaky brown-and-cream plumage that mimics the reeds they hide amongst.
When threatened, they will attempt to sneak away silently or adopt their ‘freeze’ pose with beaks pointing straight up and swaying slightly to match the surrounding plants. In this pose, described as looking like a stick, their eyes dart around, assessing the situation around them.
This makes them very hard to spot – except in this instance, when Brent noticed one out in the open and pulled his car over to investigate.
Brent Glentworth's shot of a matuku-hūrepo north of Timaru
“I’d only ever seen a bittern twice before, both times in the Mackenzie, despite growing up fascinated by birds. We stopped to get a closer look and it did the classic ‘freeze’. It was standing at about 40cm high amongst green pasture about 15cm high, so it was unmistakable.”
Hopes hinge on habitat restoration
Mataku-hūrepo numbers declined with the destruction of their wetland habitats for historic land development and urban expansion. Today, habitat degradation, predators, poor water quality and reduced food availability continue to threaten their survival.
With the restoration of Waitarakao lagoon and wider catchment underway via the joint Our Waitarakao project, it’s hoped that sightings of these shy birds, and other wildlife, will soon become more common.
The presence of these birds normally indicates wetland health as they only like areas with clear water.
In fact, when local farmer Andrew Steven was asked at an Our Waitarakao workshop what success looked like, he replied seeing bitterns on his farm. A happy coincidence that highlights the importance of the restoration work the community is starting in this area.
This restoration work includes planting along streams on farms in the catchment, where farmers are joined by our staff and volunteers from across the community.
In the Waitarakao lagoon area residents and businesses are helping control predators and volunteers are joining our staff in beach clean-ups.
We’re in good hands with the next generation too, with students turning up to every volunteer event and schools bringing classes to the lagoon for seaside science.
With continued community support, there’s hope that the eerie boom of the matuku-hūrepo may soon be a more familiar sound in the wetlands of Waitarakao.
Report your sighting
If you’re lucky enough to see one, please report it on iNaturalist or eBird. Look for a long neck, yellowish legs and slow, deliberate movements. Your report will feed into a bittern dataset to help monitor these very rare native birds.
Our Waitarakao is a partnership project between Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, the Department of Conservation, Timaru District Council and us, working in close collaboration with the community. Find oput more about the restoration of our Waitarakao