Rare heron swoops into Bottle Lake Forest Park

A rare white heron has made a graceful surprise visit to ponds near Bottle Lake Forest Park.

The bird, which is endangered and one of a population of about 150 around New Zealand, has been spotted in the area by Christchurch City Council Park Ranger Jason Roberts.

A rare white heron has been spending time near the Bottle Lake Forest Park.

Council Ornithologist Andrew Crossland says it’s the first time he has heard of a white heron (kōtuku) visiting the Bottle Lake Forest Park ponds.

Work that has been carried out by Council rangers in recent years to create wetland habitats and attract native birds seems to have been effective, he says.

“It’s a bit of a coup to get an iconic native bird like this one in the area. White herons are found in the estuary, at Lake Ellesmere and at Travis Wetland but not usually in these dune lakes near Bottle Lake Forest.

“What we’re trying to do is create a chain of wetlands that go along the coastline and link up the Avon-Heathcote Estuary and the Brooklands Lagoon. We’d like to get birds that are passing through to stop and spend time here.”

“Before the Council started this work there was nothing but seagulls around there, but now there are pukeko, native ducks, pied stilts and other water birds that have colonised these ponds. This heron is the rarest and most impressive of the new species that have been attracted to the area.”

Mr Crossland says the heron is an adult in non-breeding plumage and is likely to have come here from breeding grounds on the West Coast to feed.

This white heron is endangered and probably flew here in search of food.