What are New Zealand beef and sheep farmers’ views on managing and protecting native biodiversity on-farm and what barriers do they face to taking positive action? Those were some of the issues investigated in a nation-wide phone survey. Fleur Maseyk and colleagues report on their findings in the … [Read more...] about Researchers survey farmer attitudes to biodiversity
Success stories
Mamaku Point ranger doesn’t let age hold him back
Ernie Mason remembers that growing up, helping his parents break in their farm, he was always a kid for the bush… always hunting. Its a love that’s stayed with him throughout his working life. At 72 years old Ernie is still going strong, working around 15 days per month as biosecurity ranger at … [Read more...] about Mamaku Point ranger doesn’t let age hold him back
‘Social attractants’ tested for terns
Ground-nesting river birds are tricky to protect. Their eggs and chicks are an easy meal for predators and even though some species, like terns, nest together in colonies, the birds may choose a different stretch of river to nest on from one year to the next. Black-fronted tern. Photo: Francesco … [Read more...] about ‘Social attractants’ tested for terns
Less stress = translocation success for tiny rifleman
Translocation is an important tool for conservation management – but it comes with risks. The capture and transfer process can be highly stressful to wildlife. Some individuals can and have died. Finding ways to reduce translocation stress can save lives. And the lives that are saved are often … [Read more...] about Less stress = translocation success for tiny rifleman
Meet NZ’s very ‘unfroglike’ frogs
Aotearoa’s amphibians are not your typical frogs. Think of everything you know about frogs and chances are New Zealand’s native frogs do things differently. Frogs croak loudly right? Not ours. Frogs lay eggs that hatch into tadpoles? Nope – our frogs don’t do tadpoles either. Archey's frog … [Read more...] about Meet NZ’s very ‘unfroglike’ frogs
Know your bird calls – human brain vs hard-drive
It was human vs hard-drive in Rawhiti, Northland when researchers pitted volunteer bird enthusiasts of various ages and experience against Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs). Senses were pitted against sensors to see who (or what) was best at detecting and identifying calls. Both humans and machines … [Read more...] about Know your bird calls – human brain vs hard-drive
Farm between two forests rich in rare wildlife
Dan Herries manages Taramoa Station in Puketitiri, Hawke’s Bay, a 564 hectare sheep and beef farm which lies between two significant and beautiful blocks of forest – an 800-year-old, unmilled podocarp forest known as Ball’s Clearing Scenic Reserve and Kaweka Forest Park where once-burnt faces have … [Read more...] about Farm between two forests rich in rare wildlife
Rats, mice and 264,457 tracking records shed light on rodent dynamics
Researchers Susan Walker, Joshua Kemp, Graeme Elliott, Corey Mosen and John Innes used 264,457 rodent tracking records collected quarterly from 23,709 tracking tunnel stations in forests across the length and breadth of New Zealand over an 18 year period from late 1999 to late 2016 to get a clearer … [Read more...] about Rats, mice and 264,457 tracking records shed light on rodent dynamics
Many-legged giant predator stalks NZ forests
‘Giantism’ is a bit of a thing on isolated islands – Aotearoa/New Zealand once had its giant eagle and giant moa – and we still have a few giants out there lurking in the undergrowth. One of those is our giant centipede (Cormocephalus rubriceps). Some sources say it gets to 16cm in length. Other … [Read more...] about Many-legged giant predator stalks NZ forests
‘Wine wētā’ makes itself at home in Marlborough vineyards
It’s not often you hear of native species benefitting from human modifications of its habitat – but one little-known wētā species has gone against trend and embraced the changes in its world. It’s been nicknamed the ‘wine wētā’ due to its fondness for hanging out in Marlborough vineyards and … [Read more...] about ‘Wine wētā’ makes itself at home in Marlborough vineyards