Join in the Garden Bird Survey

It’s time for the annual NZ garden bird survey again. The survey is well supported by Hawke’s Bay bird watchers, particularly since native birds started moving back into neighbourhoods.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is helping to promote the survey as the data helps measure how well the region’s urban and rural possum control programmes are working.

People are asked to spend just one hour any time between Saturday 28 June and Sunday 6 July looking for birds in their garden or local park, and record the largest number of each species they see ( or hear) at once.

“Whether you live in town or the country, your information will help us to understand how well bird populations are responding to the pest control that’s being done on farms and urban properties around Hawke’s Bay,” says Rod Dickson, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Biosecurity Advisor.

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

Survey forms will be available from public libraries and from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in Napier.

There is also the option to complete the survey online at www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biocons/ gardenbird/. This website has information about the survey and last year’s results.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has operated urban possum control (HuB) programmes on Napier Hill, Havelock North and Taradale over the past few years and residents are maintaining bait stations on their properties. The speedy increase in bird life in these and surrounding neighbourhoods has been noticeable. These programmes link in with the extensive rural possum control areas (PCAs) operated by farmers across the region, and coordinated by HBRC.

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