Citizen Scientists

We became citizen scientists. We had Toni from Enviro schools come into Kowhai to work with the Year 5 children and Enviro group members to conduct the great New Zealand garden bird survey. We looked at how to identify different birds and how to record tallies of the birds we saw. We then headed into the school grounds to watch birds and record the highest number of each species we saw or heard at one time. We found a wide range of birds including Magpies, blackbirds, sparrows, chaffinchs, plovers, seagulls, hawks and of course a couple of chickens! By adding our data to the New Zealand survey we help scientists to monitor distribution and detect population trends in garden birds. This information is important as birds are an important indicator of the health of New Zealand’s environment. You may like to take part in the garden bird survey at home next year Here is the website to find out more about what to do, when to do it and how to add your data. https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/science/plants-animals-fungi/animals/birds/garden-bird-surveys