New Zealand Falcon Nest Site

[Jason Searle]

Our Falcon Research over the last few weeks we founf several new nest sites. This site we came apon had three 25 day old chicks. The female (mother) had a radio transmitter attached, the transmitter was attached in 2004 to track her movments, she had a new mate this year and he was unbanded. This is a typical nest site for the New Zealand Falcon that we come across during our research. The images are not the best, as i had limited time and these were taken around 5:30am, before we continued with the rest of the day.

[Jason Searle]

This is a close up of the same nest site showing the chicks. Once again not a great image, but will give you all an idea of how the New Zealand Falcon nest.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Very interesting and thanks for sharing! Are there many potential predators?

[John Chardine]

Nice touch with a NZ fern emblem beside the nest!

[Jason Searle]

Yes there are many predators unfortunately; wild pigs, stoats, magpies etc just to name a few. Part of the reason they are an endangered species is due to nesting on the ground.

[Tony Whitehead]

Well done, Jason. This is lovely to see.

[Gerald Kelberg]

Hadn't realised that the NZ Falcon is a ground nester - but can understand that in former times it would have developed that habit. I have seen reports that a stray dog(s) may have killed as many as 70 Kiwis in a reserve in the north of the North Island - another un-welcome predator!

Gerald