Matuku-hūrepo (bittern) is a severely threatened species on the brink of extinction.
The best opportunity to estimate the population is to count the males while they are booming in the spring. Join us, whether this is learning a new skill or as an experienced birder!
It’s the first year of ‘The Great Matuku Muster’ which encourages everyone to record bittern on the same day(s) nationwide to avoid double counting, for a better estimate of their population.
For the muster, the Karioi Project will coordinate local volunteers to monitor and record observations of males booming - 30 minutes before and after sunset - for 3 days each month.
If the weather is fine our target dates are as follows. These will get pushed out to the first fine evenings after these dates if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
September (Sunset around 6:10 pm)
Friday 13th
Saturday 14th
Sunday 15th
October (Sunset around 7:40 pm)
Friday 18th
Saturday 19th (Most critical day!)
Sunday 20th
November (Sunset around 8:10 pm)
Friday 15th
Saturday 16th
Sunday 17th
You can volunteer to monitor bittern on public wetland sites or reserves - or if you’ve witnessed or suspected bittern to be on your own wetland, you can monitor there!
The Love Bittern Project’s active listening guide below is a must-read for anyone keen to help with the muster
