The bird recovery centre are used to dealing with kiwi, tui and other birds. But, in a rare occasion, a bat arrived.
The team at the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre received a long-tailed bat after it was found by Carol Rodgers on Wednesday morning,
Mrs Rodgers said, to her surprise, she found the bat laying in the backyard of her Te Paka Cres home in Kamo, about 10am.
"It was the first time I'd seen a bat. I was quite excited. I think it was brought in by my new cat because she's been bringing in small birds and the bat had holes in its wings," she said.
Robert Webb, from the Whangarei Bird Recovery Centre, said it's not often the centre sees bats. "It's only the second one we've had in about 11 to 12 years, we've given him a drink and a rest and he was flying around good.