“At the current rate of population decline, we are the last generation of people who can help save Matuku-hūrepo, in their natural wetland homes”
Matuku-hūrepo (bittern) is a severely threatened species on the brink of extinction.Nationwide synchronised counts of male Bittern booming
Matuku-hūrepo | Australasian Bittern are a highly mobile species capable of traveling from region to region - which means that you could count one in your wetland one day and the same Bittern could be counted again in another place the next day. The population of Matuku-hūrepo here in Aotearoa is unknown - somewhere between 250-1000 birds are left we think... and they are on the brink of extinction.
You can play an important role in helping us to count Bittern during their breeding season when the males can be heard booming. To join us you will need to be able to count the males booming for 1-3 days each month on the weekend closest to the full moon in September, October or November for 60-90mins after the local sunset.
Join us, whether this is learning a new skill or as an experienced birder! The Karioi Project will coordinate local volunteers but our data will be shared nationwide.
September
Dates: 18, 19, 20 (Approximate Sunset time: 6:15 pm)
Backup/postponement dates: 25, 26, 27 (Approximate Sunset time: 7:20 pm)
October (Approximate Sunset time: 7:55 pm)
Dates: 23, 24, 25
Backup/postponement dates: 30, 31, 1 Nov
November (Approximate Sunset time: 8:35 pm)
Dates: 20, 21, 22
Backup/postponement dates:27, 28, 29
You can volunteer to monitor bittern on public wetland sites or reserves - or if you’ve witnessed or suspected bittern to be on your own wetland, you can monitor there!
Let Jasmine know if you’d like to help! karioi.volunteer@arocha.org
The Love Bittern Project’s Bittern Boom Monitoring guide below is a must-read for anyone keen to help with the muster.