Three birds found

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Only three canaries have been returned to the aviary at the Botanical Gardens since the door was kicked in last week.

One was found in Russell Street, another at the childcare centre at Gisborne Hospital and a third across the road from the Botanical Gardens.

This is only a 10 percent recovery rate after 30 flew the coop on Saturday morning, August 15, after the door to the aviary was discovered badly damaged.

The missing birds were a mixture of zebra finches and canaries.

Poverty Bay Bird Club secretary Terry Nickerson said he wasn't holding out much hope of finding any more.

“There will be no natural food for them out there for them at this time of year, they will be feeling the cold out in the open, and then there's all the predators.

“The zebra finches are only two or three inches long so they haven't got much hope in this sort of weather.”

Mr Nickerson most of the birds had rings on their legs. If anyone spots a colourful bird they are encouraged to call the Gisborne District Council on 867 2049.