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Beach Patrol Reporting Page

Side headings marked with an asterisk (*) must be completed.

Beach Patrol Multiple Submission
Enter the date of patrol

  • Use nationally and regionally recognised names of a city/district/town.

  • Clearly describe the start and end points of the beach patrol.  This helps to confirm the length of beach that is visited.  Please do not enter X, or leave blank.
  • Optional: Enter GPS coordinates for start and end points using decimal degrees for beaches not having recognised geographical names (Latitude -XX.XXXX, Longitude XXX.XXXX, [-XXX.XXXX for Chatham Islands]; four decimal places only).  Coordinates are unnecessary for well-known or well described shorelines.
  • Clearly describe the start and end points of the beach patrol.  This helps to confirm the length of beach that is visited. 
  • Optional: Enter GPS coordinates for start and end points using decimal degrees  (Latitude -XX.XXXX, Longitude XXX.XXXX).

Name of observer

  • Initials & Family name of the primary observer
  • Email address of the primary observer
  • In submitting Beach Patrol observations in your name, you are confirming that you are strongly confident of the identity of the bird species that have been found. If you are not confident with identification of a bird, please do not submit observations for that species.  Request identification assistance from specialist members of Birds New Zealand and submit at a later stage.
Do you wish to add more observers
  • Initials & Family name of other observers

  • Briefly describe weather and tide on the day of patrol

  • Briefly describe weather over the previous four weeks

Bird Species Found

  • Select the ‘Common name of bird’ from a drop-down menu.  Common names are based on (a) the Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand, 5th edition (OSNZ Checklist Committee) 2022, and (b) Amendments to the 5th edition of the Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand, Notornis, 2024, Vol. 71: 93-114. 
  • Select the corresponding ‘Species name or category in the pre-2021 database’. 
  • The purpose of requiring the entry of names in two fields is to link new observations using 2022 and 2024 common names, as shown in the 2022 and 2024 checklists, with the names of birds recorded in the database up to and including 2021.  Many bird species were renamed in the 2022 Checklist with additional new names in the 2024 amendments to the 2022 Checklist.
  • Enter NIL if no birds are found.
  • Record the lowest taxonomic level you are able to identify the bird to, for example, Prion species, Gull species, Shag species.
  • The identity and number of dead non-oceanic birds found (land, freshwater wetland species) as well as seabirds should be recorded.

 

Maturity and Freshness *

  • Estimate the maturity (adult, sub-adult, unknown) of birds found. Enter the numbers of birds counted in each category.
  • Estimate the freshness of birds found using one of two categories. Enter the numbers of birds counted in each category.
    Freshness categories:

    • A = Fresh body or decaying (< 7 days dead).
    • B = Dried body, wings or other parts of a body, or a skeleton (> 7 days dead).
Freshness A
Freshness B

 

Evidence of

(A) oil pollution on birds
(B) birds caught in fishing lines
(C) birds having been shot
  • Record evidence of (a) oil pollution on birds, (b) birds caught in fishing lines, and (c) birds having been shot.
  • If Yes, list the species and numbers of birds.
Are you submitting an image? (optional, up to 3 images can be submitted)

Maximum file size: 2MB

Do you wish to submit another image?

Maximum file size: 2MB

Do you wish to submit another image?

Maximum file size: 2MB

(optional)
  • Briefly record any significant observations concerning the birds found, particularly where the identity is uncertain.  Particulars of banded birds can be recorded here.