We are so lucky to have Australasian Bittern here on Aotea and it’s always exciting to receive reports of their sightings. These birds are critically endangered, with ongoing habitat loss being one of their greatest threats. Bittern can sometimes be spotted along wetland edges, drains, paddocks and roadsides. When spotted they often adopt a ‘freeze’ stance, with the bill pointing upward.
Known for their distinctive 'booming' call, male Bitterns are particularly vocal during the spring breeding season, with nestlings typically fledging from November to May. If you’ve ever heard a deep, resonant sound echoing across wetland areas, chances are it’s a male Bittern calling. It's an unmistakable sound—so keep your ears open! You can listen to a recording of their call here: https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/conservation/native-animals/birds/bird-song/australasian-bittern.mp3
These birds are very secretive, and sightings are often brief, so we encourage you to report any observations of bitterns. Every sighting helps build our understanding of their movements and local population. If you've spotted a bittern, please get in touch with the OME group at medlandsecovision@gmail.com. We are maintaining an ongoing record of bittern sightings, as well as conducting an annual bittern survey.
Check out the following reports from John Ogden’s reports from the last two years Bittern Surveys.