A bird more threatened than most Kiwi species has made an appearance in the Waikato.

A young Australasian Bittern was found in the backyard of Cambridge couple John and Jude Bowen last week.

The wetland species' population is estimated to be less than 1000 individuals and are classified as threatened-nationally critical due to introduced predators and loss of habitat.

The Department of Conservations said they have the same threat classification as kākāpō and are more threatened than most species of kiwi.

The Bowen's arrived home on the afternoon of January 17 to find a juvenile bittern on their St Kilda property.

Jude went into the garage and on glancing out the window she saw an unfamiliar object lurking in the backyard and raced inside to inform husband John.

'Jude came back into the house and told me she found something outside,” John says. 'I went into one of our bedrooms and opened the ranch slider to get a better look. And there it was.”

Jude took a few photos of the elusive, yet uncharacteristically bold, bittern, which appeared to be striking a pose for the camera.

'We were excited because we didn't know what it was – I'd never seen anything like that before,” John says.

'We watched it for a few moments because it had its neck straight up, in camouflage mode. We could see its eyes moving around, watching us.”

A Google search revealed the bird's breed, and they were directed to call the DOC.

'We continued to watch it for a few moments. Jude put some drinking water out as it was a hot day, but the bittern didn't move,” John says.

They left it alone but when they went to check on it again, it had disappeared.

DOC science advisor Emma Williams, a wetland bird specialist, says the bittern is a juvenile, which could explain why it was so curious.

'So, much like human teenagers, they're a little prone to getting into trouble and turning up in places they shouldn't be,” she says.

'It's a great sign that breeding is happening in this area though - the locals should be very proud a bird as threatened as the kākāpō is interested in checking out what Cambridge has to offer.”

She says there have been young bitterns in urban areas previously which have been severely underweight and suffering from starvation.

'It's a common problem with bitterns. They feed off small fish and eels, with the latter also being endangered. Also, the chicks need areas of shallow, clear water with lots of prey to learn to forage. Many of our waterways are severely degraded, with water being of poor quality and clarity, and channelled into deep inaccessible drains. This makes it difficult for bitterns, who rely on being able to see their prey, to feed.”

People can help save the bitterns by making sure there are plenty of wet areas for bitterns to feed in throughout the year.

They like shallow water with plenty of reed or rush-like vegetation. Raupō and Juncus plant species are good plants to encourage.

Helping create and restore wetlands within your local area. Bitterns have lost 90 per cent of their habitat and the remaining 10 per cent is degraded and under threat.

And also controlling predators in and around any sites that bitterns may visit.

-Stuff.