News

The March 2024 Birds New Zealand magazine has been published with a cover photo featuring a New Zealand Fairy Tern Tara Iti taken by Darren Markin. This issue contains news of Tara Iti breeding success and the results of bird research projects funded by the Birds New Zealand Research Fund, including satellite tracking Red Knots, […]

Applications are invited from individuals, groups or organisations who are prepared to make a difference in bird research in New Zealand! Details and an application form are available here. Applications close 15 June! A list of preferred themes for research projects for this year’s funding round is available here

The 2024 New Zealand Bird Conference and AGM of Birds New Zealand will be held in Nelson from 1 to 3 June (King’s Birthday Weekend). Conference details Abstract submission is now closed. REGISTER NOW Field trip options are limited and filling on a first-come-first-served basis! Conference attendees are invited to enter their photos into the 2024 […]

The Atlas team will be running a Toi Toi Wines funded Atlas expedition to Wairarapa this April! The group will be based in Dannevirke from Wednesday 24th April 2024, and finishing up on the Sunday 28th. The aim is to increase Atlas effort, day and night, across as much of the Wairarapa region, targeting low […]

Download the latest South Auckland newsletter here Other recent newsletters from around the regions are available here

Download the latest Otago newsletter here Other recent newsletters from around the regions are available here 

Download the latest Nelson newsletter here Other recent newsletters from around the regions are available here 

13 March 2024 A group representing thousands of scientists has written to the Cabinet saying the government’s plan for fast tracking consenting is retrograde and values development over the environment. The legislation – which passed its first reading last week – will give three ministers the power to bypass normal consent processes and have the […]

Between November 2023 and March 2024, Natural History curator Colin Miskelly walked the length of Aotearoa New Zealand on Te Araroa Trail – counting every bird seen or heard along the way. In this twentieth blog in the series, Colin describes birds encountered while walking the final section, through the Takitimu, Woodlaw, and Longwood Ranges […]

This is an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to make a scientific contribution to reversing the dramatic decline of migratory shorebirds in the East Asian – Australasian Flyway (EAAF). The successful candidate will lead a part of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Project 4.17, supporting recovery and management of migratory shorebirds in […]

Download the latest Waikato newsletter here Other recent newsletters from around the regions are available here

The historical OSNZ Publication “A Flying Start” (by B.J. Gill & B.D. Heather), published in 1990, is now available for download as PDF This book commemorates 50 years of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand (1940-1990) and is valuable to everyone interested in birds! For other historical publications that have significance to New Zealand ornithology […]

Birds NZ wader count data and re-sightings a crucial part of first full-annual cycle population model of South Island pied oystercatcher/tōrea developed by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. Read more

The latest 5 day Youth Camp held in the Makarora Valley and delivered by the Aspiring Biodiversity Trust was a great success! Read the report here

Dr James Savage is a behavioural ecologist based in Invercargill. His research focuses on social and reproductive behaviour, particularly maternal effects and how parents coordinate to rear offspring. During his PhD, James studied the chestnut-crowned babbler, a medium-sized cooperatively breeding passerine endemic to outback Australia, More recently, James has contributed to behavioural research in rifleman and hihi, and […]

Birds NZ has been documenting the increase in population and breeding of royal spoonbill in NZ since the late 1970s. The last census was in 2012 when 2361 birds were recorded. Birds NZ regions will collectively do another winter census in 2024 to see if the population of royal spoonbill is still increasing. In addition, […]

Download the latest Wellington newsletter here Other recent newsletters from around the regions are available here 

Download the latest Canterbury newsletter here Other recent newsletters from around the regions are available here

Download the latest Marlborough newsletter here Other recent newsletters from around the regions are available here 

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Mel Galbraith on Thursday 28 September, surrounded by his family, following a short battle with cancer.  Mel was a long-standing Council member of Birds New Zealand, and much valued as an active leader in Auckland ornithology, having been a previous Regional Representative. […]