Teacher Resource: Studying Birds

Transcription

1 Teacher Resource: Studying Birds This resource is intended to assist teachers to develop a lesson unit about New Zealand birds. Use the information provided to help you develop an investigation to uncover as much animal life as possible, to understand the different types of animals, what equipment to use, and how to record your findings. The activities are practical and cost effective and can be adapted to suit the environment. This resource encourages a non-invasive approach to studying wildlife. Animals will not be harrassed or harmed and a catch/release policy is used wherever possible, even for introduced pests. Target audience: Primary, secondary or adult students. Subjects: Science, Biology, Social Science, Mathematics, Technology. Topics covered: Before you begin: background information. Techniques for studying birds. How can you help? Survey Forms. Further information. Focus Questions: What is unique about New Zealand birds? Why should we help New Zealand birds? What is the best way for us to survey birds in our local habitat? What can I do to help New Zealand birds? 60 Springs was a programme run in partnership by Puke Ariki, Shell NZ and Taranaki Regional Council from It provided opportunities to inspire young people to develop innovative solutions towards a sustainable Taranaki. For further information on 60 Springs visit

2 1. Before you begin: background information New Zealand has a number of endemic (only live and breed in New Zealand) bird species, such as kiwi, takahe, weka, saddleback, tui and kereru. Many of New Zealand s birds have become extinct, while others are endangered, threatened or at risk. Historically, a variety of factors including urbanisation, pollution, deforestation, land modification, and introduction of pests caused the extinction of species and reduction in others. Understanding the issues that threaten our native birds helps us to manage and protect them for the future. By learning more about New Zealand birds, we can discover where certain species live and thus where protection is needed, as well as understanding the influence of existing conservation and protection processes. Why study birds in New Zealand? Native birds play an important role in our natural environment. They are critical for functioning/persistence of native ecosystems (i.e. pollination, seed dispersal), and are an important part of the food chain. Native birds also have a cultural and aesthetic significance, bringing tourists to New Zealand to see unique creatures such as the yellow-eyed penguin, kiwi and kea. Studying bird species unique to New Zealand also provides an indicator on the general health of an ecosystem, and the impact and effectiveness of ecosystem restoration and conservation (such as that for the tui, kereru, kiwi and takahe). Why study common bird species? Common birds are regularly seen and identifiable by the public, as compared to rare birds which are more difficult, time consuming and expensive to monitor. Because of their commonness, noticing changes in the population and taking action to prevent their decline may be easier than with rare, more unusual birds. Common birds can also be better indicators of general environmental health than rare birds. Relatively common birds such as tui, bellbird and kereru are keystone species, meaning they are important in maintaining the structure of an ecological community. These birds are also flagship species. Flagship species are chosen to represent an environmental cause, such as an ecosystem in need of protection.

3 2. Techniques for Studying Birds Your chosen method of study will depend on the bird species and the information you want to gather. As birds are more commonly heard than seen, have multiple calls and can fly away quickly before identification, we suggest you choose to study three or four easily recognisable birds, rather than attempt to identify all birds you see. Things to consider before starting a study: What bird habitats are close to your school? What information are you seeking in your study eg density, relative abundance, distribution, occupancy, number of species, behaviour, nesting success? Can your study be linked into a bigger established project, such as the Landcare Research Garden Bird Survey? What are the characteristics of your chosen species: nocturnal, common, endangered, migratory, secretive, friendly etc? What habitat does it live in? What bird monitoring techniques can you use? Density distance sampling and territory mapping. Mostly used for threatened species. Relative abundance 5 minute bird counts, kiwi call count surveys and a one hour garden bird survey. Distribution/occupancy presence/absence surveys e.g. Ornithological Society New Zealand Bird Atlas. Number of species species lists e.g. Ornithological Society. Nesting success how many young fledged? Used mostly for threatened species e.g. kokako. Footprint surveying used for surveying little blue penguins along the beach after low tide (morning and night), as this is when the penguins come ashore and return to the sea.

4 3. What can your students do to help? We ve selected a variety of simple activities for your students to discover more about the native birds in their local environment. We have also provided sample survey forms, relevant web-links and publications for these activities on the following pages. Five minute bird counts to compare different environments/habitats. One hour garden bird surveys, e.g. Landcare Research Garden Bird Survey. Use tracking tunnels to detect footprints of introduced predators in your study area. These can be sourced from the Taranaki Regional Council, Gotcha Traps or make your own. Build, fill and maintain a bird feeder with grain and/or sugar water. Build and place penguin boxes along the coastline. (You will need permission from the Department of Conservation for placement of boxes). Game: match bird species with adaptations/characteristics. Learn about what makes New Zealand birds vulnerable to predators/investigate the effects of non-native species on native species. Create a plan for how to increase bird numbers at your school by planting trees to attract native birds throughout the year. Create a food web and discuss the potential consequences of removing certain plant and animal species. Volunteer by checking stoat traps in an established predator controlled area. Carry out a penguin footprint survey along the beach and then pass on the results to the Department of Conservation or Nga Mōtu Marine Reserve Society Penguin sighting database on TERRAIN.

5 New Zealand Garden Bird Survey Form Date: Location of study (Grid reference or GPS): Time of survey: Name of surveyor: Did you or someone in your survey area feed the birds? Explain e.g. type of food offered. Name of Bird (add other species at bottom) Bellbird Blackbird Canadian Goose Chaffinch Eastern Rosella Fantail Goldfinch Greenfinch Grey warbler Hedge sparrow (Dunnock) House sparrow Kereru (Wood pigeon) Magpie (Australian magpie) Mallard Myna (Common Myna) Paradise Shelduck Redpoll Rock pigeon Silvereye (Waxeye) Song thrush Starling Yellowhammer Tui Kaka Welcome swallow Black-backed gull Red-billed gull Shag Other * if seen and heard, record it only as seen Most seen at one time* Most heard at one time*

6 New Zealand Garden Bird Survey Form Environment information choose most appropriate. Temperature Rain Wind Direct sun: record approximate duration in minutes Noise (other than wind): freezing,<0c cold, 0-5 C cool,5-11 C mild,11-16c warm,16-22c hot, >22 C None Dripping foliage Drizzle Light Moderate Heavy Leaves still or move without noise Leaves rustle Leaves and branches in constant motion Branches or trees sway 0 not important 1 moderate 2 - loud Fruiting, Flowering information record details. Plant Species Fruit or flowers Rare, occasional, common, abundant or very abundant Notes

7 4. Further Information A variety of web-links, publications and contacts with further information on New Zealand birds are provided below. What bird is it? Five minute bird counts Landcare Research National Garden Bird Survey - used to monitor the distribution and population trends of common birds in New Zealand. Survey form: Department of Conservation (DOC) site for information on all New Zealand birds (land, sea and shore, wetland and river birds) and recordings of bird song. DOC bird identification online course (10 common birds). Tree planting guide for native birds. How to make your own bird nectar feeder. Penguin Experience. Mark Meyburg (Royal Society Teacher Fellow studying penguins). How to build a Penguin nesting box. Gotcha Traps Ltd -inventors and distributors of Black Trakka tracking tunnels. This site includes information on everything related to tracking tunnels including a guide to identifying footprints and how to purchase tunnels. Taranaki Kiwi Trust Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust Eastern Taranaki Environment Trust Nga Mōtu Marine Reserve Society Penguin sighting database on TERRAIN.

8 Publications The Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Birds, Rod Morris, Random House, ISBN A Bird in the Hand: Keeping New Zealand Wildlife Safe, Janet Hunt, Random House NZ, ISBN Which New Zealand Bird? Andrew Crowe, Penguin Books, ISBN Canterbury Museum Teacher Information Pack New Zealand Birds. Cost $10 plus P&P. This resource was created from a presentation 2010 Taranaki Regional Council Biodiversity Workshop Studying Birds Notes, by Nathan Hills (60 Springs Environmental Educator) and Shay Dean (Taranaki Regional Council Scientific Officer - Biodiversity).