Event

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