Bittern on the Brink? Can you help?

Bittern may be on the brink in Northland. As a secretive, wetland bird with a threatened status of ‘nationally critical’ – no one is quite sure how many bittern we have left, if they are doing ok, or if we are fast losing them to predators and lack of suitable habitat.

A new ‘Matuku Mahi’ initiative is now gearing up across Te Tai Tokerau involving Kiwi Coast, the Department of Conservation, Northland Regional Council and the QEII National Trust. The aim is to work together to find out how many bittern we have left and what we can do to help boost their numbers back to a healthy and robust population.

Australasian Bittern (matuku-hūrepo) once gathered in large flocks. Now they are seldom seen, and if so, usually as solitary figures.

Their distinctive “freeze” stance when disturbed and brown-grey plumage helps them to camouflage into the reeds when disturbed. In fact they are so good at doing this that many people have never seen one.

New Zealand’s native bittern populations have been decimated by wetland drainage and habitat clearance.  Introduced pests such as rats, stoats and feral cats predate adults and chicks, even eating their eggs on the nest. It is estimated that only 250 -1,000 mature individuals remain nationwide – but how many do we have left in Northland?

The first step is to figure this out – to compile a Matuku Inventory. Luckily while they may be difficult to see, they are easy to hear. During the bittern breeding season (Spring) males produce a “boom” sound to attract females and to guard their territory from other males.

Just as we do for kiwi, we can listen out for bittern and compile results to get a regional snap-shot of where things are at. Listen – bittern booming (credit Nicholas Allen)  (WAV 1.98 MB)

So the call is booming out to Northlanders to help bring bittern back from the brink. There’s two main ways you can help:

1. Report bittern sightings, calls and known regular bittern locations either via the NRC dedicated Bittern Encounter Form or iNaturalist
2. Take part in the Sept – Nov 2023 Northland Matuku Count – training provided!

To find out more and get involved contact: Your nearest DOC office, Katrina Hansen at NRC, Ngaire at Kiwi Coast, or Nan Pullman at QEII National Trust.