Patients at a Whangarei recovery centre are having their daily activities surreptitiously recorded and broadcast online.
The Northern Advocate broke the news to the feathered residents at Maunu's Native Bird Recovery Centre, who were rendered speechless at the privacy invasion.
The centre previously made headlines for its line up of talking tui, which greet visitors with inquiries such as "how's your cold?" or commands them to "come here quick".
However, the birds refused to comment on whether they felt their privacy had been breached by the installation of two new cameras, that live stream centre activities online.
"Tui, tui, tui," one bird garbled when questioned.
Viewers as far away as the US have been able to see a kiwi chick hatching, thanks to innovative infra-red cameras.
Centre founder and manager Robert Webb said the high-definition cameras meant viewers were "as good as there", and he had the flexibility to record particularly special moments.
"It's another way to share what we're doing with the public, it's really neat."
The cameras covered the recovery room and one outdoor aviary. There were plans for a third so people could witness the ground-breaking surgery that goes on at the centre. The organisation, which receives no government funding, has operated as a hospital and rehabilitation centre for sick and injured birds since 1992.
Mr Webb says Whangarei is the only centre he knows of with a live web feed.
"We have schools requesting to design their curriculum around our footage and the teachers are able to use the images to support their programmes."
A class in Colorado were able to witness a kiwi hatch as well as view hawks, moreporks and an albatross which were also cared for there, Mr Webb said.
"The cameras really are the heart of the centre, they encourage people to come up here and experience these beautiful birds which means that we can continue caring for them."
The cameras were paid for by one of the centre's primary sponsors, Bayer New Zealand. Visit nbr.org.nz to view the webcast.