The ruru (morepork) is a predator – but it’s certainly not on the ‘predator-free’ hit list. Those slots are just for introduced mammal predators which haven’t co-evolved with our vulnerable native species. Ruru do prey on other native wildlife however, including endangered species, as a recent study … [Read more...] about Video camera study reveals rare birds in ruru diet
Native wildlife
Kaikoura red-billed gull study reveals predator impacts over 52 years
If you park up at the beach with a feed of fish and chips it can seem like red-billed gulls are common and thriving. But 52 years’ worth of observations and monitoring data from New Zealand’s biggest gull breeding colony on the Kaikoura Peninsula tells a somewhat different story. Mammal predators … [Read more...] about Kaikoura red-billed gull study reveals predator impacts over 52 years
Future conservation role possible for urban lizard gardens
City dwellers and urban lizard gardens could play a significant role in future skink and gecko conservation in New Zealand, according to research just published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning. Turning part of your garden into some desirable reptile real estate could really make a … [Read more...] about Future conservation role possible for urban lizard gardens
Video logger films at-sea foraging of yellow-eyed penguin
A male yellow-eyed penguin from Boulder Beach on the Otago Peninsula, recently became a video star for researchers Thomas Mattern, Michael McPherson, Ursula Ellenberg, Yolanda van Heezik and Philipp Seddon, who were investigating the use of high definition video loggers to study marine wildlife. … [Read more...] about Video logger films at-sea foraging of yellow-eyed penguin
DOC and volunteers count kiwi on Tiritiri Matangi
The little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii) was probably the most common kiwi species in Aotearoa/New Zealand in the mid-1800s. Now it's our second rarest kiwi of the 5 kiwi species. Numbers plummeted last century and it had almost disappeared from the mainland by the mid-1900s. Then 5 birds were … [Read more...] about DOC and volunteers count kiwi on Tiritiri Matangi
Road hazards for wildlife more than just a collision risk
When you think about roads and wildlife, the first thought that springs to mind is a collision with fatal consequences. But roads can impact wildlife in a whole range of ways and more evidence is needed on the most effective ways to mitigate those impacts. Collisions with vehicles are only one … [Read more...] about Road hazards for wildlife more than just a collision risk
Rare orange-spotted gecko lives only in alpine zone
There’s a rare and colourful gecko known to live in only a few boulder fields and rock jumbles in the alpine areas of Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago districts. It’s been named the orange-spotted gecko and was only discovered as recently as 1998. Orange-spotted gecko. Photo: Carey Knox … [Read more...] about Rare orange-spotted gecko lives only in alpine zone
Citizen science monitoring method outlined and tested
Monitoring wildlife population densities in our ‘mainland island’ fenced sanctuaries is an important part of measuring sanctuary success and assessing the longterm costs and benefits of predator-exclusion fencing. Such fences don’t come cheap, after all. What's the best way to monitor population … [Read more...] about Citizen science monitoring method outlined and tested
Hibernation or torpor? Understanding our weird and wonderful bats
Let’s be honest – New Zealand’s wildlife is weird. There are alpine weta that can freeze and thaw, kiwi with their amazing sense of smell and mammal-like behaviour, booming kakapo, carnivorous snails – and then there are our bats. The closest relatives of our short-tailed bats live in tropical … [Read more...] about Hibernation or torpor? Understanding our weird and wonderful bats
How can we help native species in a mast year?
Graeme Elliott has been studying our native birds for 45 years and using his knowledge we've put together an overview of how we can best protect our native birds in a mast year. A small reclusive bird the rock wren For him the message is clear, the main tool that can be used to reduce … [Read more...] about How can we help native species in a mast year?