Healthy bird populations can indicate that the environment is healthy. We know lots about endangered native birds in the bush, but we don’t always know what’s happening in the populations of all the birds around us, particularly in urban and garden environments.
That’s why we need you to help us count them.
What we learn from information about the birds in your garden collected by you and your fellow citizen scientists helps our researchers make decisions to protect our environment. It also tells us if what we are doing in areas such as predator control is working.
Background
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research has proudly led this biodiversity study of urban and rural landscapes since 2007.
This survey is the only one of its kind that informs policy makers, scientists, bird enthusiasts and other organisations nationwide who have an interest in the state of our garden birds and their environment.
The survey acts as a backyard barometer for our nation’s garden birds. It’s an early warning system to highlight any health issues, as well as evidence that our birds are thriving.
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research monitors changes in bird populations over time by comprehensively analysing bird counts gathered by New Zealanders. These are then distilled into meaningful metrics.
To date, over 42,000 surveys of garden and parks have been undertaken by individuals, schools, and community groups.
