Predators are needed to keep their prey populations in check, and without predators there are often more cases of disease outbreaks and starvation in prey species.
Falcons are found throughout New Zealand in areas South of Auckland. On the South Island, falcons are often described as being a high-country bird because this is where they are most often spotted. However, this term is incorrect. Falcons were found throughout almost all of the habitats in New Zealand prior to human settlement, and have only been driven into the high country because of persecution by humans and the introduction of predatory mammals.
We are a locally-run Charitable Trust working to increase the numbers of falcons in the wild in Marlborough, we also rescue and rehabilitate injured falcons at our aviary. The MFT are fierce advocates for falcons and are incredibly active in the community raising awareness through our school programme and visits to local festivals, clubs and groups. This project is about increasing the numbers of falcons and raising the profile of falcons in the community.
We are releasing falcons into territories at the edge of the known range of wild populations in Marlborough. These locations often are vineyards, but not necessarily so. We choose release sites that are the most appropriate for the falcons. Who we are MFCT. Threats to Falcons. Falcon Flying Displays.
Report a Sighting. There are three ecological forms of falcons. What does it mean when something is threatened? How well can they see? How fast can they fly? How big are they? Where do they nest? How many eggs do they lay? How long does it take for eggs to hatch? What do chicks look like? Why are you releasing them in valleys? When the male brings back food to the nest he will often pass it to the female mid-air by either dropping it for her to catch or passing it foot to foot.
During these spectacular food passes the adult females can turn completely upside down in the air! New Zealand falcons breed in a wide variety of habitats; in native bush, pine plantations, tussock lands and roughly grazed hill country pasture. In most of these areas they either lay their eggs into a small scrape in the dirt on the ground or on small bluffs. However in podocarp forests they nest in the epiphytic plants mostly Astelia and Colospermum found growing in large emergent trees such as rimu.
We still do not understand the full distribution of the falcon breeding population in New Zealand but it is clear that in some areas the falcon is in decline or in some instances such as Northland entirely absent. Help us understand more about these wonderful birds and report any New Zealand falcons you see by reporting a falcon sighting. The breeding season commences in late August with the very last birds fledging the nest in mid-March. Between one and four eggs are laid with incubation lasting approximately 30 days.
Chicks generally hatch between October and December. Up to four chicks can fledge the nest, but the average number fledged is around two birds. Being larger, the females kekking call is generally deeper than that of the male. No they are not. New Zealand falcons have been classified into three different types based on ecological and morphological differences. The three forms are known as the Bush, Eastern and Southern falcons. There is probably a large overlap in the ranges of these forms but Bush falcons generally occur in the North Island of New Zealand and in the north western end of the South Island.
Eastern falcons range from Marlborough down into the southern end of the South Island and Southern falcons occur throughout Fiordland and down into the subantarctic Auckland Islands.
Five ways to tell the difference between a falcon and a harrier: 1. The falcon is usually seen in active hunting flight, chasing small birds with rapid wing beats; whereas the harrier is mostly seen gliding over the ground searching for carrion and small prey.
In addition to size, it differs from the hawk by its flight, and coloring. The hawk can be seen soaring as it scans the ground for food. It flies in a kind of slow, effortless way. In contrast the NZ Falcon is much more deliberate in its flight. It flies with a faster wingbeat.
Both birds are a dark brown coloring, but the hawk has some lighter parts on the bottom and lower parts. This bird is a hunter that adapted over time to hunt in the dense native forests of New Zealand. As the land cover of the country has changed over time , it can now be seen in tussock grasslands also.
It mainly hunts other birds that it is able to catch in the air. However, it also hunts small lizards, insects, and even rabbits.
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