Soaring pride: Bird of the Year winner’s special place in Timaru

Tuesday, 30 September 2025

A Timaru-based charity working to rehabilitate birds of prey had extra reason to celebrate as the country’s 20th Bird of the Year winner was announced.

The kārearea/New Zealand falcon, a high-speed hunter capable of diving at 200kph that faces threats from habitat loss and predation, took out the crown on Monday.

It was a milestone year for the competition, which drew more than 75,000 voters from 123 countries.

For the New Zealand Raptor Trust, at Redruth, the win would also help the group to raise awareness of the facility it is building to house the country’s third captive breeding programme for the endangered kārearea.

The Department of Conservation issued the trust with a Permanent Captive Holding for Species Management permit in June, allowing it to develop a falcon captive breeding programme.

Trust chairperson Jenni Fraser said the news on Monday was “very exciting”.

“We’re very happy, particularly this year with us getting the permit and raising money for the facility,” she said.

So far, the trust has raised about $100,000 for the facility, through funding and fundraisers. It needed about another $80,000, she said.

A Givealittle page has also been set up.

The trust had a pair of falcons, Stella and Jet, who were resident at the Kārearea Falcon Trust in Blenheim and were ready to move into the Timaru facility as soon as it was ready.

Fraser said the programme gained momentum with the arrival of Stella, who was found injured at Cannington, South Canterbury, in 2023.

She was assessed by the trust and spent weeks in intensive care as she recovered, but ongoing health issues meant she could not be released back into the wild.

The trust has used the catchphrase “Help bring Stella home” as part of its fundraising campaign.

The breeding programme aimed to ensure falcons not suitable for release were paired to breed chicks and help improve population numbers.

Fraser was not surprised by the falcon’s competition win, saying the bird was a “stunning animal”.

“They’re so intelligent and at the top of the food chain. They are amazing birds and all have their own personality.”

The competition was also a good way to raise awareness of New Zealand’s birds, she said.

“It’s really nice and appropriate in that sense.”

The trust has also been working with The Ringmakers to design a range of raptor jewellery.

A portion of each sale would be donated to the trust and Fraser said a falcon would now be added to the designs.