Can you hear the boom? 🔊 That’s the mating call of the mysterious matuku/bittern, a large wetland bird more often heard than seen. Our staff, along with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Fish & Game New Zealand and over 80 volunteers, put on our detective hats to record population estimates of the endangered bittern. This is an essential count to help us evaluate trends, prioritise habitat restoration and determine how to adapt to management. Learn more about the matuku/bittern here: https://bit.

Bitterns are large and secretive birds that live amongst the reeds, they are often very hard to spot spending most of their time hidden away feeding on fish, amphibians and insects. Males can occasionally be heard making a far-reaching booming sound during the breeding season. 😍 🎥 Steve Everett #winterwatch | BBC Springwatch