Karearea ....NZ Native Falcon

11 Nov, 2012
8 likes

There has been a bit of discussion on birds of prey recently, so thought members might be interested in seeing one of our birds of prey. A small raptor (bird of prey) which is endemic to NZ, the Karearea is rare & hardly ever seen now in the North Island. It is considered to be one of the boldest of the 11 species of Falcons found worldwide, & highly aggressive. Unlike the NZ Kahu (Harrier Hawk) which feeds on road-kill as well as small field creatures, the Karearea catches its prey on the wing. As it often lays its eggs under logs on the ground, it is at risk of becoming endangered, due to introduced stoats, ferrets & possums. It has been known to attack small dogs & has dive-bombed humans, causing serious scalp/head injuries.

Comments on this photo

Katarina

I like very much your description. Like from a professor of zoology.
:)

12 Nov, 2012

Dwyllis

Thank you, Katarina. I have a great interest in the native birds of my country, as so many have become extinct over the last 100 years. Still more of our beautiful native birds, many of them endemic to NZ, so seen nowhere else in the world ...such as this Falcon, are now rare, on the At Risk register,or actually Endangered & on the brink of extinction. Once they are gone, we have lost them forever. I did a blog a while ago, on many of our At Risk & Endangered Birds & belong to a Conservation group, though I am not able to be actively involved nowadays. What about the birds of your homeland? Perhaps you might be persuaded to share them with us?

12 Nov, 2012

Katarina

:)) Maybe one day.

12 Nov, 2012

Feverfew

Thanks for this lovely pic.I'm amazed that a falcon lays it's eggs on the ground, also that it is so aggressive. How big is it.? You have a big garden, lots of work to do! I'm sure it will be a credit to you, send us pics of things in bloom.I have nothing in flower at present.Tidying up time &putting in a few extra bulbs, alliums, tulips,dwarf daffodils etc. awaiting the seasonal cold! Ugh.Need to be in NZ for a few months. FEVERFEW

12 Nov, 2012