Free Book for New Members!

New members of Birds New Zealand now receive a free copy of our award-winning book – “Lost Gold: Ornithology of the subantarctic Auckland Islands” – while stocks last!

Valued at $55, this is the first ever book about the birds of New Zealand’s subantarctic Auckland Islands. Published in soft-cover format in 2020 it has 426 pages, including over 150 colour photos and maps. Please note the offer excludes overseas and family subscriptions.

Join now and get your free copy: https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/membership/

Code of Conduct for Bird Photography

Birds New Zealand has issued a new Code of Conduct for the Photography of Birds. Download at birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Code-of-Conduct-for-Photography-of-Birds-Guidelines.pdf

These ethical standards act as a best practice guide to members when taking images (including photos, videos via fixed or moving cameras including mobile phones and drones) of birds. The primary aim is to ensure respect for the security and welfare of birds and to minimise interference to birds and the surrounding environment during observation and photography.

We encourage members to read this Code of Conduct and behave accordingly. The accompanying poster may be reproduced and used to promote these guidelines at Birds New Zealand hosted or affiliated events. Download the poster at birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Poster-Code-of-Conduct-for-Photography-2406.pdf

A new Constitution for the Ornithological Society of New Zealand

I am pleased to advise members that a new constitution for the Ornithological Society of New Zealand was approved by Government authorities (the Companies Office in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) on Monday 24^th June 2024.  Motions to adopt a new constitution, and to revoke the Society’s earlier constitution were voted on and endorsed unanimously the AGM held in Nelson on 2^nd June 2024.

Legislation defining the rights and responsibilities of all clubs and societies and those who run them has undergone a long-overdue revision, resulting in enactment of the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.  This new Act provides a new legal framework that determines how all incorporated societies will now be governed.  It is this change that provides the background to the assembly and approval of a new constitution for the Society.

The Society’s earlier constitution served us well for many years.  Despite the new legislative requirements, I am pleased to let you know that several important sections of the Society’s constitution will continue unchanged, or nearly so.  These include the name of the Society, objects (objectives), the powers of the Society (expanded in the new Constitution), the procedure for the election of councillors, membership categories (with two amendments), the role and powers of the Council (now expanded), matters concerning meetings of the Council (slightly expanded), arrangements for setting subscriptions, the management of committees, regional organisation, and the procedure for amending the constitution.

Numerous new provisions are included in the approved constitution.  These concern new requirements for membership, for the removal of councillors, for disclosure and management of conflicts of interest, for the conduct of meetings, for financial management, for the management of annual general meetings, for managing the resolution of disputes, for winding up and for insurance.

The new constitution is available to view and download on the Birds New Zealand website at  birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Constitution-2024.pdf

I encourage you to take a moment to have a look at this new set of rules that it expected to provide a sound foundation for the governance of our Society for many decades to come.

Natalie Forsdick
President

Checklists of New Zealand Birds

Amongst the earliest publications of the Ornithological Society were checklists of New Zealand birds. To make these better known and be easily accessible to members, the four earlier versions of the checklist of New Zealand birds published by the Checklist Committee of the Society may now be read and downloaded from the Historical Publications webpage.

• 2010. Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica
  B.J. Gill, Convenor
• 1990. Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica
  E.G. Turbott, Convenor
• 1970. Annotated Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand, including birds of the Ross Dependency
  F. C. Kinsky, Convenor
• 1953. Checklist of New Zealand Birds
  C.A. Fleming, Convenor.

In addition, Amendments and additions to the 1970 Annotated Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand was published as a supplement to Notornis Vol. 27 (1980).  This is not a full checklist and needs to be read in conjunction with the 1970 checklist.

The current Checklist is available to read and download here

Highlights from the 2024 NZ Bird Conference

The 2024 New Zealand Bird Conference in Nelson was not only a significant and memorable event, but the largest national bird conference yet!

Read highlights and view photos here

The next New Zealand Bird Conference will be held in Auckland from 31 May to 2 June 2025. Mark it in your diary!

Oceania Seabird Symposium New Dates!

The Oceania Seabirds will now be held from 13-16 May 2025. Noumea, New Caledonia remains the preferred venue, however the symposium team will continue to monitor the situation.

This inaugural Symposium will bring the attention of the international and Oceania community to the importance of seabirds within the world’s largest body of water, the Pacific Ocean | the Great Ocean | Coxë

Registration is open via the website – https://oceaniaseabirds2025.com/

Any queries – email info@oceaniaseabirds2025.com

Wellington Newsletter

Download the latest Wellington newsletter here

Other recent newsletters from around the regions are available here