Woof Woof has lived at Whanagrei Native Bird Recovery Centre since he was about 5 days old. When Robert Webb took him in he knew the little tui chick would never fly.
Robert hoped the Tui would be of educational value for visitors, but at 2 years of age Woof Woof became a star...
He named himself and began to talk.
Woof Woof picks up commonly used phrases but has a startling moments where he directs visitors "around the other side and up the steps" to see the other birds on display.
(Watch a video of Woof Woof talking below)
"A Tui in captivity is a sorry sight" Robert cautions. "Tuis are specialist feeders and would not ususally survive in captivity long term. It just wouldn't work." Robert would hate to think that people would even try to catch a Tui as they have fragile long legs and claws.
Robert discovered that Tuis were occasionaly kept at Maori Pa sites in the past. They were housed in Rata vine cages and were known talkers.
The Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre is not about caging native birds but about rescuing and rehabilitating them back in to the wild.
You can help to provide food and medicines for these birds.
www.whanagreinativebirdrevovery.org.nz
email nativebirdrecovery@xtra.co.nz
Visit the centre:
State highway 14 Maunu Whanagrei
ph. 09 438 1457
Woof Woof has lived at Whanagrei Native Bird Recovery Centre since he was about 5 days old. When Robert Webb took him in he knew the little tui chick would never fly.
Robert hoped the Tui would be of educational value for visitors, but at 2 years of age Woof Woof became a star...
He named himself and began to talk.
Woof Woof picks up commonly used phrases but has a startling moments where he directs visitors "around the other side and up the steps" to see the other birds on display.
(Watch a video of Woof Woof talking below)
"A Tui in captivity is a sorry sight" Robert cautions. "Tuis are specialist feeders and would not ususally survive in captivity long term. It just wouldn't work." Robert would hate to think that people would even try to catch a Tui as they have fragile long legs and claws.
Robert discovered that Tuis were occasionaly kept at Maori Pa sites in the past. They were housed in Rata vine cages and were known talkers.
The Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre is not about caging native birds but about rescuing and rehabilitating them back in to the wild.
You can help to provide food and medicines for these birds.
www.whanagreinativebirdrevovery.org.nz
email nativebirdrecovery@xtra.co.nz
Visit the centre:
State highway 14 Maunu Whanagrei
ph. 09 438 1457
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