A pair of falcons raising their young near Taieri Mouth may be unusually far east, but the birds - described as the wildest in New Zealand's skies - are certainly displaying their species' usual fearless nature.
A visit by the Otago Daily Times to an area of forest where the pair of the native birds were raising three or four young prompted an ongoing series of dive-bomb attacks.
The pair launched from a nearby tree-top perch before shooting through the air and swooping alarming close, then pulling up in a flurry of feathers and returning for another raid.
Author Neville Peat said falcons were ''the wildest thing in our skies''.
They were similar to a sea lion in that they were not intimidated by humans like other species.
''You just need to be careful of them,'' he said, particularly when they were raising young.
Mr Peat, who has written a book about the species, said the nearest falcons to Dunedin were usually resident further west, in one of three gorges on the Taieri, near Hindon.
Falcons had a large range; 5sqkm was ''no stretch'' for the top predator.
''I don't know I've heard of them nest in the Taieri Mouth area.
''It's a bit unusual, especially if they're nesting there.''
He said it was good to see the bird spreading east.
Mr Peat said the species was unique to New Zealand, and unique in the wider world of falcons because of its different wing and tail configuration.
The female was typically one third larger than the male.
''We are getting towards the end of their breeding season, although if the Taieri Mouth pair had a clutch of eggs in December, they would be feeding fledglings in January-February.
The male fetched live prey for the female and chicks.
''How exciting to hear of a New Zealand falcon pair breeding close to the East Otago coast.''
The Department of Conservation website says the bush and southern New Zealand falcons are listed as threatened species because of population decline.
While not listed as threatened, the eastern falcon is recognised by Doc as at risk.
The birds are capable of flying at speeds of more than 100kmh and can catch prey larger than themselves.
They hunt by watching from a vantage point, then making a fast flying attack and striking or grasping the prey with their sharp talons.
The birds kill their prey with a quick powerful bite to the neck.
