Bingo the Pukeko: Why You Shouldn't Keep Native Birds as Pets

Bingo the pukeko arrived at Flock with rickets - a condition caused by vitamin D and calcium deficiency. He had been kept by a well-meaning member of the public who found him as a chick and did not know that native birds have very specific nutritional needs.

Why Keeping Native Birds is Illegal and Harmful

Under the Wildlife Act 1953, it is illegal to keep native birds in New Zealand without a permit. This law exists for very good reasons. Native birds like pukeko have complex dietary, social and environmental needs that cannot be met in a domestic setting.

Rickets is just one of many conditions we see in birds that have been kept by people without the right knowledge. Others include imprinting, malnutrition, feather damage, and psychological stress.

What To Do If You Find a Native Bird

If you find an injured or orphaned native bird, please contact a DOC-permitted rescue immediately. Do not attempt to raise or keep it yourself, even temporarily. The sooner a bird gets into proper care, the better its chances of a full recovery and release.

Bingo made a full recovery and was released. He is out there living his best pukeko life - and that is exactly how it should be.

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Support Flock Birdcare Wellington - we are a volunteer-run charitable trust and every donation goes directly to patient care. Visit www.flockwellington.com/donate to make a one-off or monthly contribution. Every feathered friend we release is thanks to people like you.

For more pūkeko chaos, meet the chicks we raised at Flock. And to learn about the rules around native birds, read our DOC permit explained.

Related reading: our chaotic pūkeko chicks and our DOC permit explained.