Conservation and public input to be covered in next Nature Talks

The whio or blue duck is one of many New Zealand's endemic bird species whose population and geographic range contracted between the 1970s and early 2000s. Photo / Supplied

Whio or blue duck is one of many New Zealand's endemic bird species whose population and geographic range contracted between the 1970s and early 2000s.Abe Leachabe.leach@nzme.co.nz

The link between bird conservation and "citizen science" is the focus of Whanganui's next Nature Talks presentation.

The talk will be led by Peter Frost, the regional representative for Birds New Zealand, who has researched birds for over 40 years.

Two years ago a Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment report showed that four-fifths of the country's bird numbers were in trouble.

Frost said that was based off analysis of bird distribution from two atlases covering 1969 to 1979, and 1999 to 2004, which were created from the input of thousands of citizen scientists.

"Effective conservation needs good data, not only on the status of species and what factors might be affecting them, but also whether conservation efforts are having positive outcomes," he said.

"In New Zealand, the resources available to the Department of Conservation and regional councils to gather such data are limited.

"Community groups and individuals, serving as citizen scientists, can be invaluable in covering some of these shortfalls."

In his presentation, Frost will discuss different ways people can get involved with conservation initiatives, and speak about a new atlas project which will monitor changes in bird numbers and take a closer look at current conservation efforts.

Frost will talk at the Whanganui Regional Museum's Davis Lecture Theatre on April 16 at 7.30pm. Entry is free although a gold coin donation is appreciated.