I met Debbie Stewart during my first trip to New Zealand in 2011.

Passionate about birds of prey, Debbie founded the Wingspan National Birds of Prey Centre in 1992 to dedicate herself to their conservation.

At this center near Rotorua on the North Island, injured birds are treated before being released, and endangered species like the New Zealand falcon are assisted in their reproduction. Debbie also undertakes crucial educational work to help people appreciate the beauty and importance of these formidable species, which remain little-known and underappreciated in the country.

Before humans arrived in New Zealand, incredible birds of prey lived there: the Haast’s eagle had talons as long and sharp as a tiger’s claws and a wingspan of up to 3 meters, while the laughing owl weighed 600 grams and was 38 cm tall, almost four times the size of the more recent morepork that arrived from Australia. These species quickly disappeared. Today, the remaining birds of prey are small and specialized in their niches: the rare falcon (Kārearea) hunts small live prey (rats, small birds…), the swamp harrier (Kāhu) catches larger prey and feeds on carrion, the morepork lives in forests and feeds on insects, while the barn owl prefers the countryside.

Debbie shared a long and beautiful history with Ozzy the falcon, whom she rescued when he was just 10 days old. With him, Debbie learned the ancient art of falconry and developed this essential activity for raising public awareness. These presentations fascinate audiences: as the birds perform dazzling aerial maneuvers, Debbie and her falconers explain the qualities of this rare species and the threats it faces. Ozzy was an amazing ambassador, allowing more than 30,000 children to hold him on a gauntlet!

Discover Debbie in my video, “Encounters with the Protectors of the Lost Ark”.