Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre is a place I should really visit more often. Located in Rotorua, they are leaders in the conservation of birds of prey in New Zealand, as well as engaging in education and research initiatives. They’re open every day from 9am-3pm, and have flying displays at 2pm, weather permitting. The extensive aviaries are home to a number of different species – Moreporks (Ruru), New Zealand Falcon (Kārearea), Harrier Hawks (Kāhu) and a Barn Owl. The flying displays are a great opportunity to practice shooting fast birds in flight, namely our vulnerable New Zealand Falcon.

A fast telephoto lens is the best bet for capturing the Falcon in flight, I usually pair the 70-200mm f /2.8 with the D700, while Dad uses the 200-400mm f/4. I have previously used the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 with good results, but much prefer the 70-200 for it’s fast focusing.

It always seems to rain when I visit, but overcast weather is actually perfect for photographing the birds, as it greatly reduces highlights and shadows that would make the background distracting. Dad did a great blog post a while ago about why overcast weather is desirable which explains this is detail, with some examples from South Africa.

The trees make a lovely soft background, but the sky can also be good if overexposed to white, which picks out the lovely feather details on the wings. 

The flying displays are also an opportunity to get up close and personal with the birds and learn more about them. Wingspan does a wonderful job of rehabilitating injured birds and educating the public about their ecology, and the threats they face. If you’re in Rotorua and want to get some Falcon photos, or just want to find out more about them, I’d heartily recommend a trip to Wingspan – check out where to find them on their website.

Falcons prefer high perches, which is difficult to provide at 5’3”! Photo courtesy of Dad.