Original post – 08 Dec 2025
by BirdCare Aotearoa

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located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Original text:

Incoming! 🦉💚

Over the weekend, the season’s first orphaned Ruru was admitted to BirdCare Aotearoa’s nursery!

This little one was found grounded and lost in a very populated area in Remuera, near a school and a busy intersection – not an ideal place for a young Ruru to fledge.

With the risks of passing traffic and potential human interference, this youngster was gently rescued by a kind community member and brought in for expert care.

We’re happy to share that patient 25-1846 passed its health check with flying colours and is settling in beautifully. With some food, rest, and flight practice, we’re confident it won’t be long before this feisty youngster can be released in a safe location. 💚

If you’d like to support the growth and recovery of Ruru – and the many other orphaned species currently in our care – please consider donating

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Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

4th of Owltober!

While most of you are experiencing Fall/Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s Springtime in New Zealand which means wildlife hospitals are inundated with lots of baby birds. BirdCare Aotearoa in Auckland is currently running a fundraising campaign for its busiest season of the year, which incidentally was reported in today’s Radio New Zealand article:

Auckland bird hospital expects hundreds of patients as breeding season begins

BCA report they have “already cared for 42 Ruru this year. Common reasons for admission include cat attacks and entrapment in sticky Parapara sap. But most often, like this newest arrival from Glen Eden, they present with neurological symptoms from collision injuries—usually with windows or vehicles.”

The Ruru pictured was posted during BCA’s 2023 campaign, with the caption:

A massive thanks to everyone who has supported our appeal so far! We’ve been truly touched by the generosity and kind messages we’ve received. With your help, we can give birds like these a second chance at life💚

Original post – 06 Sep 2023
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 15 Jul 2025
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

This feisty Ruru (Morepork) was brought to our friends at Pet Doctors (@pdstlukes) after being attacked by a feral cat in Patumahoe.

Their team did a fantastic job stabilising the ruru with oxygen, pain relief, fluids, and starting antibiotics before transferring to BirdCare Aotearoa for continued rehabilitation. 🏥🩹

Now two days into care here at BirdCare, we’re happy to report that patient 25-1185 is recovering well!

We love it’s disgruntled expression – Ruru are very expressive. Be assured this Ruru is receiving the very best care – and we’re optimistic for a full and speedy recovery. 💚

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Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 01 Apr 2025
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

A huge thank you to everyone who donated towards the rehabilitation of our two little Ruru (Morepork), who arrived at BirdCare Aotearoa after becoming trapped in the sticky seed pods of a Parapara tree.

Link to previous post on these two ruru.

Thanks to your support, they’re doing very well in our hospital! After carefully removing all of the seed pods, our dedicated team has been working tirelessly to restore their feathers to their former glory—a delicate process that takes time and patience.

This includes specialised baths designed to help restore the waterproofing properties of their feathers—an essential step for any bird returning to the wild.

It won’t be long now until this duo is ready to soar free once again. 🦉💚

If you’d like to support their continued care (and others like them), please consider donating:

Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 08 Mar 2025 – Source
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Arohanui [much love] to our amazing BirdCaring whānau [family] who are responding with urgency to our appeal. We have recieved a flurry of donations. We’re not out of the woods, but we are already over half way there. 🥰

In the meantime the mahi [work] continues as wild birds keep coming from far and wide needing urgent care, rescued by caring community members. 💚

Among them was this little ruru who came to us from Browns Bay dazed, unable to fly and with reduced vision. Our hospital team quickly got to work treating for suspected head trauma. 🤕

Under an expert regime of oxygen, pain relief and fluid therapy they are making a dramatic recovery. With vision and attitude restored, they are well on track to being returned to the wild – along with the other three Ruru that are currently in our care, who are rehabilitating from parapara entrapment. 🦉🦉🦉🦉

Without your donations, these birds and many more like them would not get the second chance that they deserve. We are very grateful for the support of our wonderful community during this time.

We’re almost there!

Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 05 Mar 2025 – Source
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

This weekend we received two ruru from Shelley Park and Beach Haven, both covered in sticky Parapara glue and seeds.

Note: Ruru, like most nouns in te reo Māori is both the singular and plural of the word. The species is commonly known as Morepork.

Birds often get stuck in the glue-like substance that is produced by the seeds of these plants. The birds wind up grounded and dehydrated, as the sticky glue and seeds gets all through their feathers and renders them unable to fly, catch food or even walk.

Thank you to the wonderful community members who rescued these birds and brought them to BirdCare Aotearoa for treatment – without doing so they would not have survived.

Our hospital team got to work rehydrating and stabilizing them, then began painstakingly removing all glue and seeds without damaging the feathers. It is hard work, and these ruru may have a long road to recovery and full restoration of feather condition…. but it sure is worth it! 💚

It may take some time for these ruru to be completely rid of all the glue and returned to full health. Please donate now to support their recovery:

Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

💛🦉

Photo credit – BirdCare Aotearoa – 26 Dec 2023

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located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Story: One of 5 Ruru that were found this Christmas and taken to BirdCare Aotearoa. These owls were either injured, orphaned or attacked by cats.

Big gratitude to BCA and their incredible staff and volunteers for looking after these precious manu (winged creatures) of New Zealand.

You can help fund Birdcare Aotearoa at the following DONATION LINK

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Image source: Birdcare Aotearoa

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located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

(No story to accompany this one, just a classic owl in a towel!)

You can help fund Birdcare Aotearoa at the following DONATION LINK

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Story and captions (1️⃣-7️⃣) below from BirdCareAotearoa:

The affectionately named ‘Angry Ruru’ arrived with a bad head injury after being hit by a car. He spent his time staring grouchily out at us. His grumpy expression was a result of the head trauma. As he recovered, he started to look less angry – but the name stuck!

1️⃣: ‘How dare you wrap me in a towel! I am a fierce predator!’ (During a daily checkup.)

2️⃣: ‘Angry Ruru’ develops grumpy expression – published in Western Leader

3️⃣: Angry but beautiful 🤩

4️⃣: Angry Ruru indignant about being put in an incubator. After any head trauma, oxygen therapy is an essential part of care at BCA. We use an oxygen concentrator, and find that an incubator provides the perfect space for birds to take a quiet, comfortable, oxygenated rest. These incubators are great as they can be run at ambient temperature.

5️⃣: ‘No, I will NOT sit on my perch!’

6️⃣: FREEDOM

7️⃣: Angry Ruru is safely released back to home territory 🥰

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Birdcare Aotearoa at the following DONATION LINK. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 15 Sep 2022
by Birdcare Aotearoa

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located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

This ruru featured on the Give-a-little page for BirdCare Aotearoa.

For those willing and able please consider helping fund BirdCare Aotearoa at the above link, or directly via their website. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

I was incredibly fortunate to have a close encounter with this beautiful Ruru when I was living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Location: BirdCare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

BCA were looking for volunteers to transport a few avian guests for release. I jumped at the opportunity and got to meet this little one at the centre in Green Bay.

BCA treated him for gluey feathers from the resin of a Parapara tree (aka the birdcatcher tree). They gave him a soapy bath and some time to restore his waterproofing. On this day he had a full belly from his yummy treat 🐁 full of energy and couldn’t wait to get out of the box.

And here he is back in the wild! We released him in a wooded area close to the spot he was originally found. It was much too dark to get video, but a quick flash photo was enough to show he was alright, and that he’d found a satisfactory branch to perch on. Go well little buddy.

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Birdcare Aotearoa at the following DONATION LINK. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Source: Birdcare Aotearoa – 15 Sep 2022

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Ninox novaeseelandiae (a.k.a ruru in Māori or morepork in English) is a species of owl native to New Zealand, closely related to the Boobook in Australia.

Here’s one being swaddled in a towel like a burrito 🌯 so the carers can medicate him more easily, and then return him to his enclosure for a late afternoon food treat 🐁 yum!

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Birdcare Aotearoa at the following DONATION LINK. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 10 Jan 2023
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Baby ruru receiving their daily checkup 🥰

It’s amazing to see how they all have slightly different features and expressions!

Ninox novaeseelandiae, also known as “Ruru” in te Reo Māori, or “Morepork” in English is a species of owl native to New Zealand, closely related to the Boobook in Australia.

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Birdcare Aotearoa by heading to the following DONATION LINK. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 10 Jan 2023
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Baby ruru receiving their daily checkup 🥰

It’s amazing to see how they all have slightly different features and expressions!

Ninox novaeseelandiae, also known as “Ruru” in te Reo Māori, or “Morepork” in English is a species of owl native to New Zealand, closely related to the Boobook in Australia.

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Birdcare Aotearoa by heading to the following DONATION LINK. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 10 Jan 2023
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Baby ruru receiving their daily checkup 🥰

It’s amazing to see how they all have slightly different features and expressions!

Ninox novaeseelandiae, also known as “Ruru” in te Reo Māori, or “Morepork” in English is a species of owl native to New Zealand, closely related to the Boobook in Australia.

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Birdcare Aotearoa by heading to the following DONATION LINK. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 10 Jan 2023
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Baby ruru receiving their daily checkup 🥰

It’s amazing to see how they all have slightly different features and expressions!

Ninox novaeseelandiae, also known as “Ruru” in te Reo Māori, or “Morepork” in English is a species of owl native to New Zealand, closely related to the Boobook in Australia.

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Birdcare Aotearoa by heading to the following DONATION LINK. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉