It's 'all go' for yellow-eyed penguins - 2019 Bird of the Year - and those who help protect them. ‘Penguin Season’ is underway in Otago and Southland as staff and volunteers from the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust search for this year’s nests in North Otago, Otago Peninsula and the Catlins. Trust … [Read more...] about Breeding season underway for yellow-eyed penguins – 2019 Bird of the Year
Volunteers
Predator Free Whiriwhiri forms to halt return of possums and rats
When software developer, Andy Saunders, returned from the UK a few years ago, he bought a property in Whiriwhiri, a stone’s throw from where he grew up in North West Waikato. Andy Saunders with some of the local Rat Rangers (and Louie the beagle.) The trees beyond have resident long tailed … [Read more...] about Predator Free Whiriwhiri forms to halt return of possums and rats
Extinct birds on show in digital art exhibition
Seen any extinct New Zealand birds at the shopping mall recently? Or maybe you spotted one while passing through Wellington Airport… Haast's Eagle. Harpagornis moorei. From the series: Extinct Birds of New Zealand., 2005, by Paul Martinson. Purchased 2006. © Te Papa. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. … [Read more...] about Extinct birds on show in digital art exhibition
Bushy Point volunteers hold Triple Celebration
Otatara Landcare Group (OLG) in Southland has just celebrated its 20th year and two other impressive milestones: OLG’s total volunteer effort has reached 15,000 volunteer hours and 30,000 locally grown native plants have now been planted at its flagship restoration project at Bushy Point! So how … [Read more...] about Bushy Point volunteers hold Triple Celebration
Saving mohua motivates Makarora Valley trappers
Ian Turnbull’s father was a member of the Central Otago Lakes Branch of Forest and Bird back in 1998 when the group first began trapping in the beech forest of the Makarora Valley near Wanaka. Now Ian himself is retired and part of the dedicated trapping team. “There were a small number of mohua … [Read more...] about Saving mohua motivates Makarora Valley trappers
MIRO helps out overlooked banded dotterels
For the last 20 years or so, an area of gravel has been slowly forming at Robinson Bay on the Eastbourne foreshore, just across the harbour from Wellington City. Then about 9 years ago banded dotterels (pohowera/tūturiwhatu) arrived and began trying to breed on the beach, right in front of … [Read more...] about MIRO helps out overlooked banded dotterels
Biodiversity strategy discussion document
The NZ Biodiversity Strategy is an important document that sets out the framework for how we protect our biodiversity and ensure it thrives over the next 50 years. The Department of Conservation has recently released a discussion document which will help inform the final strategy. This … [Read more...] about Biodiversity strategy discussion document
Wildlife artist, Hannah Shand, captures the personality of native birds
When Hannah Shand studied fashion at University, she would choose to do art-based projects and always enjoyed doing things by hand rather than on computer. As a graduate, she moved to Auckland for a job in a fashion workroom, and found the workroom job wasn’t as creative as studying at … [Read more...] about Wildlife artist, Hannah Shand, captures the personality of native birds
Biosecurity essential to success of Project Island Song
Project Island Song is a Bay of Islands wildlife sanctuary that celebrates the native subtropical habitat, lush with vegetation and alive with birdsong. Thousands of trees have been planted, and five rare and endangered species have been reintroduced with more reintroductions planned. The project is … [Read more...] about Biosecurity essential to success of Project Island Song
Bait station modification baffles bait-stealing possums
For community groups carrying out predator control it can be a real struggle to get rat numbers down to a level that allows small native birds to successfully breed in spring. One frustrating issue can be possums cleaning out the bait in your bait stations before the rats get to it, meaning large … [Read more...] about Bait station modification baffles bait-stealing possums