Lake Ellesmere- a critical regional stronghold for bittern

Bird photographed flying into a dense raupo bed in late July

Fifth bittern for year sighted today !

Yeah- getting confident at finding them now- photos being worked on. Lake Ellesmere Region- Canterbury's stronghold !

Bittern flying over a frozen lake

It is quite remarkable that bittern over winter on the Ashburton Lakes- tough birds

Bittern close to extinction in Tasmania - IUCN

http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/144719/0

Bittern in Australia- conservation status changes

1988 – Lower Risk/least concern

2008 - Endangered

In the space of twenty years awareness of the birds conservation status has changed markedly !

Proposal to place bittern one rank up in conservation status in NSW

2010

Proposal to list bittern as an endangered species - Threatened species Conservation Act- NSW

Hello fellow bitterners- more information on the state of the bittern in NSW- Australia

NSW Scientific Committee - preliminary determination
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Preliminary Determination to support a proposal to list the Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus Wagler 1827 as an ENDANGERED SPECIES in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act, and as a consequence, to omit reference to the Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus Wagler 1827 from Part 1 of Schedule 2 (Vulnerable species) of the Act. Listing of Endangered species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/austbitternPD.htm

Bittern- Ashburton lakes- O Tu Wharekai - July 2010

Bittern family

A cool image - trying to get details about artist. So cute.

Injured bittern recovery

The (Sweetwater) bird has been treated at the Whangarei Bird Rescue Centre and will hopefully be released back into the wild today.
Thanks Robert.

Bittern's hind claw

Formidable

Sweetwater bittern found

On it's way to the Whangarei bird rescue centre. thanks Kevin for finding the bird and to Lester at DOC ( Kaitaia) for helping with rescue co-ordination.
Peter.
Fingers crossed. Keep you all posted.
Peter
A memorable day for this bitterner !!!

one of two bitterns sighted today- Lake Ellesmere

First time in over twenty years I have sighted two birds in one day !!! Best pix shown

injured bittern- Sweetwater- Northland

Bird photographed by Kevin - with a broken wing several days ago- possible hit by car. Hopefully DOC staff will be able to find this bird for treatment. It appears quite spritely despite the broken wing- sad image but there is hope. If anyone has any records of injured or killed bitterns please email to me-
langlands@xtra.co.nz
for a paper I am working on at present.

Kind regards fellow bitterners.
Peter

Thank you Kevin for making image available.