The Great Kererū Count 2020 is coming!
The Great Kererū Count is NZ’s biggest citizen science project. This project depends on as many people as possible getting out and about gathering data on kererū. Each year the number of people taking part grows, which shows just how much New Zealanders love kererū. https://www.greatkererucount.nz
Everyone in New Zealand can get involved with the Great Kererū Count. Whether you see any kererū or not, sharing observations will help build up a clearer picture of where kererū live, how many kererū there are or aren’t, what they are feeding on, and most importantly how best to protect them. So far New Zealand citizen scientists have contributed to a total of 49,248 observations. In another few years, Aotearoa will have a statistically robust open-source data set on kererū. This data will be used by scientists at Victoria University of Wellington and elsewhere to improve conservation outcomes for kererū.
The Great Kererū Count is also proudly supported by iNaturalist NZ – Mātaki Taiao, DOC Threatened Species Ambassador, Department of Conservation, Forest & Bird, Kiwi Conservation Club, Zealandia Ecosanctuary, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Nelson Nature, Wellington Zoo, Enviroschools Te Upoko o Te Ika a Māui Learn NZ, Birds New Zealand, Wildland Consultants, Project Kereru, Restore Taranaki, Taranaki Regional Council, Greater Wellington, Science Learning Hub, New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, Te Motu Kairangi-Miramar Ecological Restoration, Predator Free New Zealand Trust , Kapiti Island Nature Tours, The Wildlife Hospital – Dunedin, Native Bird Rescue – Waiheke Island, Predator Free Wellington, Predator Free Karori, Lower Hutt Kererū Rescue, Feather Friendly, and many more awesome people across New Zealand.
18 September to 27 September
https://www.greatkererucount.nz/
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Hi there, I live on the Awhitu Peninsula west of Auckland . I am interesting in providing the environment for Kereru as I am lucky that I see them every day as I have some large berry fruiting native bush on my property. Do you do counts in this area? I have been concerned over the last 3 weeks as I have seen very few Kereru here compared to usual at this time of year as usually they are beating me to the guava berries in my garden and I am hoping they have another food source somewhere esle. Also the Taraire berries are ripe and on trees nearby and not eaten. So just wondering who is interested in this area that I be able to network with.
I look forward to your reply. Regards Beth E. 8 May 2021
Kia ora Beth,
Thanks so much for reaching out. Interesting to hear your observation around the lack of kererū. I have seen this myself around where we live and I believe that a warmer than normal start to winter has seen the kererū move to winter feeding grounds sooner than normal. This could be due to the overabundance of hinau and miro fruiting which is two of their main winter food sources. Tawa stands have also had a great fruiting season, but it is unusual that they have not taken up the taraire, Hopefully, this is just due to the early abundance in those winter feeding grounds. This is our last year of the Great Kererū Count and we have a masters student taken the 8 years of data to analyse the trends over those years, so we hope these will give a clearer picture of kererū numbers and movements.
Please feel free to email me any time at
Best
Tony
Kererū Discovery & Urban Wildlife Trust.