Garden Bird Survey

By admin
Posted on July 12, 2020

Garden Bird Survey

We are trying to get as a many people out into their gardens for an hour to count the birds they see or hear. I know that U3A members are incredibly public spirited and eager to help, especially when it comes to citizen science. I am really hoping we can get the message far and wide to get people out counting.
If anyone would like to share photos of themselves getting ready to count, warming up for the occasion or while they are counting, please don’t hesitate to send them through back to me, or add them to our social media channels.

The link to the video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSCbKvlKvT0

General info
At the end of June, we begin our 14th national Garden Bird Survey, New Zealand’s longest running citizen science project, and we’d like your help!

The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey is an annual citizen science project organised by Manaaki Whenua –Landcare Research. It takes place over nine days between June 27 and July 5. People count the birds they see or hear in their backyards.
How you can help
Share the details to your networks, about the survey and how people can be involved.
Last year, more than 4,000 people took part nationwide. Our goal this year is for substantially more people to share what birds they can see (or hear).

Here’s how people can get involved
1.       Visit the NZ Garden Bird Survey website to get started.
2.       Select a garden, or a local park or school grounds.
3.       Choose any ONE day between June 27 and July 5, 2020.
4.       Look and listen for birds on that day for ONE hour.
5.       For each species, record the HIGHEST number seen or heard at one time.
6.       Submit the results online at the NZ Garden Bird Survey website

Why the survey is important
Garden birds are important to study as they act as an environmental indicator for the health of our ecosystems, so every sighting matters. The information we gather from this survey helps inform conservation decisions and further research, not just in New Zealand but worldwide.

Resources for you to share with your community
We have provided some resources that might come in handy. You are welcome to distribute as appropriate for your networks. Attached to this email is:
·         A tally sheet
·         A banner image
·         A “What’s That Bird’ identification poster

Available on the NZ Garden Bird Survey website: https://gardenbirdsurvey.landcareresearch.co.nz/
·         Frequently Asked Questions
·         Bird identification tips
·         Other resources

Follow us and join the conversation on social media
Activity will start to ramp up from mid June. We appreciate the sharing of content and encouragement of your audiences to participate in this survey.
·         @NZGardenBirds on Facebook Twitter and Instagram
·         Join the Facebook group: NZ Garden Bird Survey
·         Contribute to the conversation #NZGardenBirdSurvey

There is also a Facebook frame that people can add to their Facebook profiles

www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=663592284224644

And finally, in case anyone asks …why do we do this in winter?
It may seem odd – but in fact it makes sense. We are more likely to see birds in our gardens in winter, because they’re attracted in when there’s less food for them in the wider environment. This means that we get better results, showing the true state of our garden birds