Events

Come join us for a very special seminar from our guest, Professor Margaret Stanley from the University of Auckland. She will be talking about the impacts of urban development and people on biodiversity in cities. With an expertise in conservation, invasive species, and urban ecology, we couldn’t imagine a more relevant speaker to share her knowledge about what we can be doing to make our backyards better for wildlife.

When - Thursday June 5th, 6:00pm
Where - Auckland Zoo, Grasslands Room. Enter from the outside to the left of the zoo main entrance gate, parking free from 5pm on.

Tickets are FREE, but please reserve a seat ahead of time so you don’t miss out! https://events.humanitix.com/can-we-improve-cities-for-people-and-biodiversity

Join the Second Sunday Weeders tacking a blue morning glory infestation on the banks of Waitītiko / Meola Creek. A volunteer team from BNZ knocked it back in January but some has returned and we’d like to knock it back before some enrichment planting in July.

Meet on the grass at 136 Motions Rd, by the tram crossing and the Pasadena reserve footbridge.

Bring your favourite gardening gloves and secateurs if you have them, but we’ll also have spare gear you can borrow. And if you don’t have two hours to spare, but drop in for as long as you can manage.

Sometimes there is cake, often there is good chat, and always there are weeds to pull.

Contact [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]; 021 150 8284

Group: Pest Free Pt Chevalier

Urban Ark - Manawa Taiao is teaming up with our friends at the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust for their annual Motu Manawa Kayak Cleanup. They’ll be running the kayaking side of things with two groups (10:30am - 1:00pm & 12:30pm to 3:00pm) heading out to clean up litter from Motu Manawa Pollen Island. Sign up here for this rare, and FREE, opportunity to experience this DOC marine reserve between Pt Chev and the Te Atatu Peninsula.

The kayaking starts and finishes at Pt Chevalier’s Eric Armishaw Reserve, where there will be a chance to contribute to local biodiversity. We’ll be controlling weeds, particularly creepers which are slowly smothering the native species around the park’s wetland. Join us for as long as you like between 9am and 1pm for some gentle weeding and a bit of chat. No experience necesary: we’ll show you want to do.

When Saturday 14 June, 10:30am–3:00pm

Where Eric Armishaw Reserve, 117 Walker Rd, Pt Chevalier

Bring: Gloves and secateurs if you are weeding. We’ll have spares for those who forget theirs.

Groups: Pest Free Pt Chevalier, Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao

Counting birds is a fun and accessible way to contribute to citizen science. Many of us are trapping pest animals and doing our bit for native plants by keeping weeds down. These are great ways to help native biodiversity and counting birds gives us an idea of how our work changes the distributions of species.

If you’d like to learn more about doing five-minute bird counts, come along. No experience necessary. Everyone has to start somewhere and we’ll be getting out amongst the birds for some practice.

We will also spend some time learning how to use eBird and Merlin, related apps and websites that are widely used around the world for recording bird activity. You’ll get more out of this morning’s session if you do a little prep. In approximate order of importance:

1. To help you identify birds download Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab onto your phone. Play around and get familiar with it.

2. Time spent with Merlin often leads people to download the proper birder’s app eBird, also by Cornell Lab.

3. You might find it useful to spend a few minutes doing DOC’s online Bird Identification course. They focus on 10 forest bird species, 7 of which are fairly common around Auckland. You could probably skip bellbird, tomtit and rifleman.

4. For general Aotearoa bird knowledge go to https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/

5. For a little background in the reasons behind doing five-minute bird counts

6. If you’ve got a deeper interest in the Conservation Status of Birds in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland.

When - June 15th, 8:30am - the early birder catches the bird!

Where - 990 Great North Rd, Waiōrea Recycling Center upstairs - look for the Urban Ark Flag outside. Parking is free and easy just outside the Western Springs Garden Community Hall

Group: Pest Free Pt Chevalier