Techniques and technologies Archives

If our native birds were gardeners, what would they plant?

No matter how small, you can always make your backyard more attractive to native birdlife by providing food, water, shelter, and nesting places/materials.

Grand designs: 5 cool catios that will make your cat jealous

These catios are impressive, but there are heaps of ways to create a safe outdoor space, from affordable DIY to pre-made kits to custom-built options.

A meme comparing what you think of rats at home (Stuart Little and Remy from Ratatou) with the reality (a rat in an attic surrounded by droppings)

True cost: predators can damage your home and your wallet

When cold weather pushes rodents indoors, infestations happen. They cause damage by chewing everything. The good news? Owen Stobart says you can prevent it.

Fellowship of the trap: how an unlikely trio grew a trapping community

What do a mechanic, a cartoonist, and an oceanographer have in common?

Comic: Smelly predator science

Possum butts smell garlicy. Research suggests that predator-emitted volatile organic compounds could be used for predator monitoring.

Willow, wearing gumboots and outdoor gear standing in a clearing in the bush.

Wild at heart: the untold story of conservationist Willow van Heugten

Threatened species benefit from the adventures of this nature legend, who’d much rather be out in the field than interviewed.

Brainy, beautiful and beloved: so why are our kea disappearing?

Dubbed ‘the clever clowns of the Alps’, kea are much loved for their cheeky spirit and keen intelligence.

8 year old Harry checking one of his traps in the bush.

8-year-old on a mission to turn NZ into a bird sanctuary

Harry is proving that age is just a number when it comes to making a difference in the predator free movement.

A group of people looking at the camera with the Marlborough Sounds in the background.

Learning from the best: Q&A with Picton Dawn Chorus

Picton Dawn Chorus went from a few passionate residents with a dream to deploying a network of 3,500 traps. How did they do it, and what’s next?

On the rise: predator free awareness across Aotearoa

According to a new survey, the predator free movement is steadily gaining momentum, with nearly 40% of New Zealanders aware of the mission.

Tuatara aren’t lizards but here are 5 cool geckos that are

We may be a nation of bird nerds but our native geckos are noteworthy too! There are at least 44 species of native geckos, and more continue to be discovered.