The date has been set for the 2015 wetland bird survey of Te Waihora/lake Ellesmere.  It will be held on Saturday February 21st, 2015. We’re now collecting the names of those interested in helping out and there will be more information to follow nearer the time.

Volunteers should be reasonably fit and committed! Some experience of identifying and counting wetland birds would be helpful, but not essential. Volunteers will be assigned to a team—transport and some equipment will be  provided. Don’t worry if you don’t know all species – each team member can take on the counting of a few species. For example, it is really useful to have someone in each team counting ducks and geese, while someone else counts the waders.

We will also need other helpers on the day – as drivers, to do data entry, to help with catering and more.

If you would like to be involved please email me your details, including an indication of any previous experience in bird counts or similar events.

The 2014 survey counted over 55,000 birds – the details are on the 2014 Bird Survey page.