Bayer boost for bird centre

18 May 2005

Bayer boost for bird centre

Injured kiwi and other birds will receive a boost this Friday thanks to innovation and research company Bayer New Zealand.

Bayer is to present to the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre a cheque for $7700 as part of its three-year sponsorship of the centre.

Bayer country spokesman Phil McSweeney says the company has a strong focus on protecting native fauna and flora.

“We have been supporting the bird recovery centre for the past four years and are delighted to continue assisting with some of its costs – let’s face it, protecting birds such as our national icon the kiwi is a truly worthwhile cause.”

Bayer also assists the centre with donations of product and with education resources, such as a new brochure due to appear in local Whangarei information centres this week.

Bird centre manager Robert Webb says he is extremely grateful for the support of Bayer.

“The company came to our rescue four years ago when we were really struggling to stay afloat. Since they came on board we have gone from strength to strength and now care for about 1300 birds a year.”

Mr Webb says this year’s financial contribution from Bayer will partly go towards upgrading the Bayer Kiwi Incubation Unit as well as assisting with general centre running costs.

One of the big expenses is the cost of feeding birds which often need special diets to aid recovery.

Mr Webb says so far this year the centre has cared for six injured kiwi as well as numerous other birds. Lately, there has been an increase in the number of moreporks and tui, probably due to the dry weather, which has made food more scarce.

Mr Webb will be taking the centre’s one-legged kiwi, Snoopy, to the Bayer office in Glenfield, Auckland, this Friday to accept the sponsorship cheque. Snoopy will also make a visit to Willow Park Primary School, located near the Bayer office.

About Bayer

Bayer is an international, research-based group with major businesses in health care, crop science and high tech materials. Employing some 115,000 people worldwide, and almost 900 in Australia/New Zealand, the Bayer Group has a portfolio of over 10,000 products and operations in nearly all countries of the globe. Worldwide operations are managed from Group headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany.

In New Zealand, Bayer aims to make a positive contribution to the community, not only by providing innovative solutions, but also through our educational partnerships. For example, Bayer supports ongoing clinical research and educational initiatives in the treatment of haemophilia. On a broader scale, we believe social commitment also extends to the environment.

We support initiatives to preserve and protect New Zealand’s native flora and fauna, such as the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre, and have established a native plant garden at our East Tamaki warehouse where rare native plants are grown.

Bayer has had a presence in Australia and New Zealand for more than 75 years. For more information on Bayer visit www.bayer.co.nz or contact:

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