Media Release

13 June 2013

Garden Bird Survey On Again in HB

The annual NZ Garden Bird Survey is on again and is being encouraged in Hawke’s Bay as a useful way to assess the benefits of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s possum control programmes throughout the region.

Spend just one hour anytime between  Saturday 29  June and Sunday 7  July looking for birds in your garden or local park, and record the largest number of each species you see ( or hear) at once.

People can complete the survey online at www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biocons/ gardenbird/ .  This website also has information on the survey and last year’s results. 

The survey is organised by Landcare Research and supported by The Ornithological Society of New Zealand and Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society. 

Locally Hawke’s Bay Regional Council encourages residents to help with the survey, as the data helps monitor the increase in bird life following the regional possum control programmes.  

Urban possum control (HuB) programmes have been operating on Napier Hill, Havelock North and Taradale and residents have observed the fast increase in bird life in their neighbourhoods. These programmes link in with the extensive rural possum control areas operated around the region by farmers, and coordinated by HBRC.

HBRC has two more HuB programmes starting this winter - alongside the Karamu, from St Georges Road to Whakatu, and in the Pukekura area west of Taradale.

“The bird survey is a great way for local people to provide some observations on the real benefits that possum control brings to their neighbourhood environment,” said Rod Dickson, HBRC Biosecurity Advisor.

ENDS

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