Bitterns return to the mouth of the Avon River

For the third year in a row ( 2012-2014) bitterns have returned to the mouth of the Avon River. It is very pleasing to have such a rare bird within Christchurch City. In 2012 I assisted the Christchurch City Council/Andrew Crossland and other park rangers with a systematic survey of the lower Avon River and adjacent reed and raupo beds in the adjoining Avon-Heathcote River with the pleasing result of five birds being found. This result makes the mouth of the Avon River one of the five most important wintering sites for bitterns within Canterbury.