Betty Shepherd Photographer

Betty Shepherd Photographer Betty Shepherd is an established Rotorua photographer specialising in weddings, portraits and nature Pricelist is also available on the website.

Check out out my website for more portfolio images, or to book a session. www.bettyshepherdphotographer.co.nz

27/11/2024

Hi Everyone.
I no longer do photography and have headed into a new direction.
Many thanks for your posts .
Cheers Betty

12/10/2022

To keep up with the latest in Whaka forest falcon world look up betshepherd page

Most of my falcon observation posts are now on bet shepherd facebook, linkng the two sites has been a challenge.This ye...
09/12/2019

Most of my falcon observation posts are now on
bet shepherd facebook, linkng the two sites has been a challenge.
This year Hatu has paired up with a new female we have named Krystyna after a lovely lady at Timberlands.
They have two chicks and they are monitored every day to check the public are not encroaching on their nest area.
Also this year we have set up a trapping programme in a radius of the nest site with the help of Timberlands and Red Stag.
We are happy to report so far 3 weasels, two stoats, 2 feral cats and numerous rats have been caught but the worrying stat was the 2 feral cats were in very close vacinity of the nest.
Thanks to the team of people who are assisting with the constant monitoring if our beautiful Falcons in Whaka forest.
The first image was taken at Wairakei Sanctuary last week where we banded 4 lovely chicks. We also travel to Taupo every week to monitor the Falcons residing on the golf course.
Will keep you posted.

Yesterday we flew over to Te Kuiti with some friends to experience the Running of the Sheep, an annual event full of cha...
08/04/2018

Yesterday we flew over to Te Kuiti with some friends to experience the Running of the Sheep, an annual event full of character and fun. Basically they let a few thousand sheep run down the main street and hope none make a run for it. The day had all the country fair trimmings. Highlight was the pipe band, some players doned gumboots which added to the relaxed atomsphere. Must say the sheep were pretty well behaved, not like the first year we went there. Had a great lunch with at the railway station cafe called Stoked. Well worth a visit.

Easter holiday weekend is over and this year we had some great flying weather. Roger and I flew to Hanmer and on the ...
08/04/2018

Easter holiday weekend is over and this year we had some great flying weather. Roger and I flew to Hanmer and on the Sunday did a trip flight over Lake Pearson, Molesworth Station and then landed at Quail Flat on the banks of the Clarence River for some lunch.The strip had quite long grass and borage growing, great for the bees but not so for looking out for obstacles and rabbit holes. We had fantastic weather all weekend and a great time with friends and this year no cyclone bearing down upon us, what a lovely change!

Falcon UpdateSo sorry about the spasmodic posts, this summer it has been full on with three sets of birds breeding in th...
15/02/2018

Falcon Update
So sorry about the spasmodic posts, this summer it has been full on with three sets of birds breeding in the Whaka forest and another lot at Wairakei. This has meant Heather and I have spent a huge number of hours out in the field and in between work there seems little time remaining.
Now for an Update.
Hatu and Maias chick has taken to the air at Windy and spends a lot of time in the large pine trees on Windy/Hill Rd corner. The detours have been taken down on the trail so normal transmission has resumed for the bikers.
The sole chick at the Exit trail has also taken to the skies and I had a recent report that a flacon was in the vacinity of Dodsys Skill park on the Scion side of the road. Could have been Sid or Bet or the chick.
The Wapia Chicks have taken up most our time. As you are aware, the adults Ford and Sery nested in a high traffic area on the trail. This created quite a bit of stress all around but we had fantastic co operation from the Trails Trust and track users and a detour was put in place when the adults were particularly aggressive. Mo and QE have been a delight to watch and can currently be seen playing tag and honing in on their flying skills and have now advanced to catching cicadas on the wing.
To top it off the pair at Wairakei had a second clutch and this week the chick was banded.
The falcon season has nearly finished so now can get some lawns done!!

Falcon News Hot Of The PressHeather and I have certainly been spending many hours up in the field but we are even more ...
01/12/2017

Falcon News Hot Of The Press
Heather and I have certainly been spending many hours up in the field but we are even more happy with the last week or so result wise.
Firstly. Our Waipa pair Sery and Ford are now settling into settling into incubation of the eggs, it took a bit for Ford to get the hang of doing his share but in the past few days we have noticed he is giving her a bit more time away. By the way bikers, she is a noisy little number so if you hear a lot of commotion coming from the trees, dont be alarmed. It appears our girl is a bit more vocal than the other females we have been watching.
Hatu and Maia have renested after abandoning their nest. We are not 100% sure why this happened but Wingspan think it may have be human or large animal invervention. All the more reason for leaving them alone!
With the assistance of the Trails Trust, a small portion of a bike trail has a detour, thankyou very much guys, hauling those logs around would have been beyond us fragile girls!!
Finally and a lovely suprise. Sid and Bet have also nested, many thanks to Kat Gellatly reporting to me a 'swooping' by the Exit trail. I did a stake out and found them in a nice inaccesible place - that means not on a trail or track- and their chick(s) have hatched already. We cannot see into the nest so will have to wait until the chicks make their move and then we can do a count.
This is the 4th year I have observed Sid and Bet and their off spring. Like Sery and Ford, they are wild falcons and Sery's parents are Sid and Bet, she was born on Nursery Hill last season. Many of you will remember being blasted by Sid on numerous occasions so folks, it was all worth it, whats a headache or two amongst friends!!!.
We will keep you up to date, but again, thanks to every one who has been part of this wonderful experience.

14/11/2017

Sad News
Hi to all of our Maia and Hatu followers.
Everything was going hunky dorey until late last week when Heather notice both birds off the nest for quite a period of time. On checking there was one egg in the nest which had been abandoned, it was stone cold.The good news is that both adults are mating again so looks like they are going to have another try.
I have been away on holiday but we are now both doing obs in two areas. Will keep you up to developments as they arise.

Hill Rd UpdateMaia and Hatu are doing their thing, sharing the nesting duties and are around 15 days into incubation so ...
24/10/2017

Hill Rd Update
Maia and Hatu are doing their thing, sharing the nesting duties and are around 15 days into incubation so not quite half way there. A word of warning. They both issued a sustained attack on me when I went up to check the tapes across the road . Hatu hit me from behind at full speed and Maia joined in from the side. Believe me, the headache is no fun but I was fortunate that he got my hat and missed scalping me. Which brings me to some sad news.
There were thousands of users enjoying the forest over the long weekend but there is always one who wrecks it for the masses. Someone decided to rip the Danger Keep Out tapes placed around the area where the public could be in danger. It appears they were purposely vandalised and there was even a very long bike skid mark deposited on the inside of the Hill Rd Tape.
The tapes have been restored and this week Timberlands and Wingspan are erecting signage in the small area concerned, there are two alternate routes users can take.
Many thanks to those who have been so supportive and if you can keep an eye open for anything untoward, please can you let us know.

A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN WHAKA FORESTMeet Ford ( the Falcon ) and Sery ( Born on Nursery Hill) -until someone sponsors them...
16/10/2017

A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN WHAKA FOREST
Meet Ford ( the Falcon ) and Sery ( Born on Nursery Hill) -until someone sponsors them with Wingspan and gives them official names.
The second pair of Falcons Heather and I have been observing for weeks now have finally put on a real display. They have been mating off and on for some time but last night we were treated with what you could call an intensive effort. 4 matings in 30 minutes!
Wingspan have confirmed that Sery is the single chick born and banded on Nursery Hill last season to Sid and Bet.
They are not showing us a preferred nest site as yet but Timerlands and Wingspan are placing signage up in affected areas this week. It would be great that the request to have dogs on a lead will be adhered to.
So far no aggression from our boy but as soon as she lays some eggs expect a change.
Huge thanks to the guys at Trails Trust, they have been so supportive of the conservation efforts for these endangered birds as have the mountain bike community in general.
Quick update on Maia, she is content and sitting on her eggs, though yesterday I did see dog tracks inside the roped off areas which was a bit concerning.
The Wairakei chick, Ping, is coming along beautifully and we will keep you up to date whith its progress.

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