Sir Paul has rare white heron treat
By
JANE DUNBAR
The Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves, yesterday had the rare treat of seeing a white heron (kotuku) feed its chicks. The only place that white herons breed is in the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve, near Okarito, South Westland. Since last year, the sight of the birds sitting on their nests in the rainforest has become accessible to the public. About 1000 people were able to visit the colony from November to March, through the Conservation Department and a business, White Heron Sanctuary Tours.
Sir Paul was in South Westland yesterday to open the second visiting season. The white heron has been adopted as a symbol by the 1990 Commission, three representatives of which accompanied Sir Paul. There are 47 nests in the colony this year. Ten nests have hatched, with about three chicks in each. The birds arrive in the area at the start of September to begin » breeding. The chicks take about six weeks to hatch, and it is six weeks to two months before they can fly.
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Press, 2 November 1989, Page 1
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177Sir Paul has rare white heron treat Press, 2 November 1989, Page 1
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