December Birds New Zealand magazine published
December 30th, 2024
The December 2024 edition of Bird New Zealand magazine has been published with a cover photo of a Hoiho Yellow-eyed Penguin by Mike Ashbee. This edition contains news of the latest bird research being funded by the 2024 Birds New Zealand Research Fund, including new research on Hoiho, three kiwi species, Australasian Bitterns, Whenua Hou Diving Petrels, Long-tailed Cuckoos and others.
In this edition we announce that we are seeking a new funder for the annual Birds New Zealand Research Fund. Since 2013, it has been funded by the T-Gear Charitable Trust. We are grateful for the Trust’s support over that time, which saw 124 bird research projects receive funding, including many led by researchers starting their ornithological careers. We now invite prospective new funders to contact our President Natalie Forsdick to discuss this new opportunity (president@birdsnz.org.nz).
This edition also contains news that our 2025 annual conference and AGM will be held in Auckland over King’s Birthday weekend (31 May-2 June), and an illustrated article reports the latest results of our nationwide Royal Spoonbill Kōtuku-ngutupapa census.
There is also news of recent sightings of an Antarctic Adelie Penguin in Lower Hutt, an Australian Dusky Woodswallow on Stewart Island, and an American Stilt Sandpiper in Southland near Waituna Wetlands.
It also reports on the successful recent Nelson/Tasman Bird Youth Camp, the results of new research on Kakapo, new albatross tracking, and the evolution of ancient penguins, and news of new research initiatives to boost Tara Iti New Zealand Fairy Tern conservation funded by the Department of Conservation.
There are illustrated articles on the New Zealand Penguin Initiative’s work on Korora Little Penguins and on a recent trip to the remote Subantarctic Bounty Islands by Colin Miskelly of Te Papa to study the Fulmar Prions that breed there.
Christopher Tuffely writes about his experience bird atlasing in the Kaimanawa southern access corridor and ‘Fledgling Fund’ recipient Johannes Chambon reports on his attendance of our 2024 annual conference held in Nelson in June.
Lastly, there are also quarterly reports from our President Natalie Forsdick and Regional Roundups from all of our regional representatives, plus a page of book reviews.
Link to the magazine:
https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Birds-NZ-Magazine44_December-2024_web12.pdf