Why Count Birds?

Counting the number of birds and the number of different birds is important for conservation and kaitiakitanga. Not only can knowing the birds in an area help the community understand what species are there and how they are doing, it can give clues to how healthy the area is as a whole.

Large numbers of rare birds can only be present in areas with less pests and a good habitat. Although sometimes pest control can actually grow the number of pests in an area. For example, getting rid of possums can cause ship rat numbers to grow. Ship rats often kill eggs, chick, and sitting adult forest birds. Other pests such as cats and stoats numbers can also grow with ship rat populations (Shmechel, Frances 2010).

Also, after planting natives in an area the number of birds can grow (Shmechel, Frances 2009). A few years after native plants have been growing there is more of a habitat for the birds to live. Getting rid of pollution and trash can also help birds live.

Native plants can help the birds live in an area and birds can help plants as well. They can help seedlings grow by carrying them far away from their parent plants. They can also give more nutrients to the plants through their poop! (Burrows, C.J.).

Bird Monitoring on Banks Peninsula: Annual Report For 2007 & 2008 (PDF File, 4.58MB)

R09/24 February 2009 Frances Schmechel. This is the first annual report from the monitoring effort for 2007 and 2008.

Bird Monitoring on Banks Peninsula Annual Report for 2009 (PDF File, 7.36MB)

R10/48 July 2010 Frances Schmechel. This is the second annual report and covers the 2009 calendar year.

Fruit, Seeds, Birds and the Forests of Banks Peninsula (1994)

1994 C.J. Burrows