Since the lake was filled in 1987 the Henley Complex has become the best bird viewing site in the Wairarapa. The land based species to be found in the Wairarapa number just over 90 and 57 of these have been seen at one time around the lake or in the wetlands.
Current Henley Bird list……August 2010.
Bellbird
Blackbird
Chaffinch
Australian Coot
NZ Dabchick
Banded Dotterel
Black Fronted Dotterel
Barbary Dove
Grey Duck
Dunnock
NZ Falcon
Pied Fantail
Bar-tailed Godwit *
Goldfinch
Canada Goose
Feral Goose
Greenfinch
Black Backed Gull
Black Billed Gull
White Heron *
White Faced Heron
Sacred Kingfisher
Australian Magpie
Mallard
Morepork
Ring Necked Pheasant
Feral Pigeon
NZ Pigeon
Spur-winged Plover
Pukeko
California Quail
Redpoll
Sharp tailed Sandpiper *
NZ Scaup
Black Shag
Little Black Shag
Little Shag
Paradise Shelduck
Australasian Shoveller
Silvereye
Skylark
House Sparrow.
Royal Spoonbill *
Starling
Pied Stilt
Welcome Swallow
Black Swan
Mute Swan
Grey Teal
Caspian Tern
Song Thrush
Tui
Grey warbler
Yellowhammer
* indicates rare visits only.
To this list may be added Pekin, Muscovy and Cayuga Ducks (domestic breeds) which have been introduced by locals.
34 species are known to breed in and around the Henley complex.
