Residents urged to fill out garden bird survey

The public are being asked to help determine changes in biodiversity following pest control. Photo / File

Hawke's Bay people are encouraged to take part again in the annual garden bird survey which starts on Saturday, June 27.

People are asked to spend just one hour any time during the week between Saturday, 27 June and Sunday, 5 July looking for birds in their garden or local park.

All they need to do is record the largest number of each species they see, or hear, at once, and enter it online at www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biocons/gardenbird/.

A bird identification poster is available to download, and a survey form is available if that is easier to use and post, and copies of the form are also available from Hawke's Bay Regional Council and public libraries.

The survey is organised by Landcare Research and supported by Hawke's Bay Regional Council as the survey results are one way people can understand changes in biodiversity following pest control.

"We know from the increased number of bird photographs in local newspapers that people are enjoying seeing and hearing more native birds in their gardens," says Rod Dickson, Hawke's Bay Regional Council biosecurity advisor.

Council has operated urban biodiversity (HuB) possum control programmes on Napier Hill, in Havelock North and in Hastings and Taradale outskirts.