Free as a bird

Since opening its doors to patients in December 2014, the South Island Wildlife Hospital, next to the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, has treated, rehabilitated and released many birds.

The hospital relies on donations to keep it going and has a team of trained volunteers led by an experienced veterinarian and vet nurse.  

Donna Clarkson is the volunteer coordinator.

"We focus on the natives here, but we've found that it's becoming more and more necessary to support our local garden varieties as well," she says.

Currently the facility is caring for a kereru, two black-backed gulls, a kea, pukeko, cuckoos and three little owls.

The volunteers look after the day-to-day operations including manning the phone, assisting in wildlife rescues and maintaining the facilities.

"Fantails are my favourite and then probably keas and owls" says part-time volunteer Tania Orchard. She is also raising seven abandoned pukeko chicks at home for the hospital.