As International Owl Awareness Day approaches on 4 August, New Zealanders are being encouraged to “give a hoot” for one of Aotearoa’s most treasured native birds—the ruru (morepork)—by taking simple steps to help protect owl populations and their habitats.
The awareness campaign highlights the important ecological role native owls play as natural pest controllers while drawing attention to the growing pressures they face from human activity and introduced predators.
The ruru is one of New Zealand’s most recognisable native birds, known for its distinctive nighttime call and deep significance in te ao Māori. Traditionally regarded as a taonga species, the ruru features in Māori pūrākau and is often associated with wisdom, guardianship and spiritual guidance.
Conservationists say modern threats are placing increasing pressure on owl populations. Vehicle strikes, collisions with windows, rodent poisons, roaming cats and dogs, habitat loss and introduced predators all contribute to injuries and deaths among native owls. Nesting females, eggs and chicks are particularly vulnerable to predators such as rats, stoats and possums.
Wildlife rehabilitation centres around the country continue to care for injured ruru before releasing them back into the wild. In Taranaki, Brooklands Zoo has successfully rehabilitated several ruru in partnership with veterinarians and the Department of Conservation, helping birds recover from injuries and return to their natural environment.
The campaign is also drawing attention to lesser-known hazards, including the parapara (bird-catcher) tree. While native to coastal environments, its sticky seed pods can trap small birds, which in turn attract hunting ruru that can themselves become entangled. Conservation experts are encouraging property owners to remove seed pods or avoid planting parapara in areas where native birds are common.
New Zealanders are being encouraged to support native owls by protecting mature trees, planting native species, controlling predators around their properties and installing nesting boxes in suitable habitats. These small actions can make a significant difference in helping ruru thrive in both rural and urban environments.
The campaign comes at a time when native bird conservation remains under intense focus. The Department of Conservation is expanding predator control programmes across large areas of public conservation land to protect vulnerable native wildlife, while community groups continue to restore habitats and improve biodiversity nationwide.
For Māori, protecting ruru is closely linked to the principles of kaitiakitanga—the responsibility to care for the natural world and ensure taonga species endure for future generations. As communities prepare to celebrate International Owl Awareness Day, conservationists hope more New Zealanders will recognise the ruru not only as an iconic night bird but as an important indicator of the health of Aotearoa’s forests and ecosystems.
#TeKaupapa #Ruru #Morepork #InternationalOwlAwarenessDay #Kaitiakitanga #TeAoMāori #NativeBirds #Conservation #Biodiversity #TaongaSpecies #DepartmentOfConservation #Environment #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews
