Cyclone Vaianu has blown in some rare birds that have been recuperating at the homes of Bird Rescue Whakatāne volunteers this week.

The volunteer organisation, which looks after injured land and sea birds, has cared for fewer-than-expected injured birds in the aftermath of cyclone with only four birds brought in. However, those birds included two surprise species.

Volunteer Rowena Hayes said they had expected to see penguins and a few sparrows come in, but instead there had been two red-tailed tropicbirds and a grey noddy, two unusual species for the Whakatāne area.

Ms Hayes said it was uncommon to see a red-tailed tropicbird on land.

The large, white, tern-like tropical seabird with two long, thin, red tail streamers is usually seen over the ocean. The only New Zealand breeding sites are on the Kermadec Islands.

Grey noddies also mainly breed on the Kermadec Islands and on the coasts of tropical and subtropical islands in the Pacific Ocean although they may have occasionally bred in places such as the Volkner Rocks off Whakaari.

Ms Hayes looked after one of the red-tailed tropicbirds, keeping it in a dog crate so it could move around and be outside without hurting itself further by trying to fly away.

She eventually let it out of the crate so it could roam on her lawn, and, after a while, it flew away.

She expects it was not injured, just tired from flying in the cyclone's winds and rain.

In previous cyclones and more severe weather, bird rescue has seen more common birds such as albatrosses and young birds that have been blown out of nests or caught by cats.

She believes most of the birds knew this storm was coming and “hunkered down”.

Bird Rescue Whakatane is a volunteer organisation which looks after injured land and sea birds. Ms Hayes is one of six volunteers who help nurse birds back to health before releasing them into the wild.

The organisation is always looking for more volunteers.

Anyone who finds a seabird or injured bird on the beach or in their back yard is advised in the first instance to take it to the vet.

Learn more about rescued bird

The Bay Conservation Alliance is running a session on Saturday for people interested in learning more about how injured birds are rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to the wild.

The seminar will teach people what to do when they find an injured bird, provide insight into the specialised care involved in rehabilitation, and practical ways to support local wildlife recovery efforts.

The session will feature Dr Liza Schneider from ARRC Wildlife Trust alongside representatives from the Department of Conservation, Bird Rescue Whakatāne, and Halo Whakatāne.

Email [email protected] to register interest in attending.

Injured bird seminar
■ Where: EastBay REAP, 21 Pyne Street, Whakatāne
■ When: Saturday, April 18, 9.30am-11.30am
■ Entry: All welcome, optional gold coin donation
■ Refreshments: Hot drinks and nibbles provided