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Beach Patrol Reporting Page

Beach Patrol Multiple Submission
Enter the date of patrol

  • Use nationally and regionally recognised names of a city/district/town.

  • Estimate length of the beach patrolled in kilometres using this format, 00.0.
  • Please write in the decimal part of a kilometre.
  • Clearly describe the start and end points of the beach patrol.  This helps to confirm the length of beach that is visited. 
  • Optional: Enter GPS coordinates for start and end points using decimal degrees  (Latitude -XX.XXXX, Longitude XXX.XXXX).

Name of observer

  • Initials & Family name of the primary observer
  • Email address of the primary observer
  • In submitting Beach Patrol observations in your name, you are confirming that you are strongly confident of the identity of the bird species that have been found. If you are not confident with identification of a bird, please do not submit observations for that species.  Request identification assistance from specialist members of Birds New Zealand and submit at a later stage.
Do you wish to add more observers

  • Initials & Family name of other observers

  • Briefly describe weather and tide on the day of patrol

  • Briefly describe weather over the previous four weeks

Bird Species Found

  • Select the ‘Common name of bird’ from a drop-down menu; these names are based on the Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand, 5th edition, 2022 (Checklist Committee, OSNZ).
  • Select the corresponding ‘Species name or category in the pre-2021 database’.
  • The purpose of requiring the entry of names in two fields is to link new observations using 2022 common names, as shown in the Checklist, with the names of birds that were recorded in the database earlier than 2021; many bird species were renamed in the 2022 Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand.
  • Enter NIL if no birds are found.
  • Record the lowest taxonomic level you are able to identify the bird to, for example, Prion species, Gull species, Shag species.
  • The identity and number of dead non-oceanic birds found (land, freshwater wetland species) as well as seabirds should be recorded.

Maturity and Freshness *

  • Estimate the maturity (adult, sub-adult, unknown) of birds found. Enter the numbers of birds counted in each category.
  • Estimate the freshness of birds found using one of two categories. Enter the numbers of birds counted in each category.
    Freshness categories:
    • A = Fresh body or decaying (< 7 days dead).
    • B = Dried body, wings or other parts of a body, or a skeleton (> 7 days dead).
Freshness A
Freshness B

Evidence of

(A) oil pollution on birds
(B) birds caught in fishing lines
(C) birds having been shot
  • Record evidence of (a) oil pollution on birds, (b) birds caught in fishing lines, and (c) birds having been shot.
  • If Yes, list the species and numbers of birds.
Are you submitting an image? (optional, up to 3 images can be submitted)

Maximum file size: 2MB

Do you wish to submit another image?

Maximum file size: 2MB

Do you wish to submit another image?

Maximum file size: 2MB

plus1 Add another species minus1 Remove this species
(optional)
  • Briefly record any significant observations or comments concerning the patrol or about the birds found, eg. bill and tarsus measurements, colour of bill, legs, plumage.