Return of Birdlife
The park adopted the RURU (our native owl /morepork) as its emblem because the Waitakaruru Stream flows through the park. Waitakaruru means owl by the water in Maori. Several rescued ruru have been released here in the park to add to the genetic diversity of our population.
The growth of nectar- and fruit-bearing trees encouraged the return of tui, bellbirds, and shining cuckoo. We also have our native wood pigeons (keruru) and herons nesting here in the park.
The abundant insect life around the ponds and lushly planted Park provides for native long-tail bats (pekapeka),kingfisher (kotare), ruru, geckos, and frogs.
The control of possums and other animal pests continues to be an essential requirement to maintain the habitat for native wildlife as well as common introduced species.
Have you played Find the Roosting Ruru Game?
We have 15 Ruru created by 15 Waikato artists all playing hide and seek in the park.
How many can you find?
Prizes to be won each month for one lucky winner.
Did you know…
Five dollars of every t-shirt we sell in the Ruru Nest Kiosk goes to Wingspan to help with bird preservation.
With every Metal Bird purchase a donation goes to Forest & Bird.
Project Ruru takes flight again.
We work in conjunction with Wingspan and Bird & Forest supporting the fight for rehabilitation and the survival of our bird species.
The project launched two years ago with related arts and environmental activities planned to follow through all of the July school holidays.
Fifteen talented waikato artists made sculptures of our native owl in a variety of media. These have been installed throughout the park and are shifted every 3 months. The Roosting Ruru game gives children and adults a fun interactive opportunity to experience the park.
