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Updated on Saturday, July 4 at 05:09 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.
Yellow-breasted Chat,©Barry Kent Mackay

4 Jul Re: Splitting Birding NZ: Two Primary Purposes? ["Suzi Phillips" ]
4 Jul Email v Web poll ["Neil Fitzgerald" ]
04 Jul Birding-NZ- simple yet effective ["Peter Langlands" ]
4 Jul Rakaia River Mouth ["Kathy & Erik" ]
04 Jul Splitting Birding NZ: Two Primary Purposes? ["optikcop" ]
04 Jul Re: Achieving the primary purpose... ["bruce896387" ]
4 Jul Achieving the primary purpose... ["Brent Stephenson" ]
4 Jul Re: The future of BIRDING-NZ...and BIRDINGNZ.Net [Chris Sanderson ]
4 Jul Re: Email or web based forum? [Jan Walker ]
04 Jul Re. The Future of Birding NZ ["optikcop" ]
04 Jul Re. The Future of Birding NZ ["optikcop" ]
04 Jul old vs new [John Dowding ]
4 Jul Re: Website vs email list [David Adams ]
04 Jul Re: Website vs email list [Wynston & /or Lorraine Cooper ]
4 Jul OSNZ winter census Top of South Island ["Rob Schuckard" ]
4 Jul Website vs email list ["Suzi Phillips" ]
4 Jul Email or web based forum? ["Neil Fitzgerald" ]
03 Jul Re: The future of BIRDING-NZ...and BIRDINGNZ.Net [Wynston & /or Lorraine Cooper ]
03 Jul Kereru in Hoon Hay ["Peter Langlands" ]
3 Jul The future of BIRDING-NZ...and BIRDINGNZ.Net ["Brent Stephenson" ]
3 Jul RE: New birding website - BirdingNZ.net ["Neil Fitzgerald" ]
02 Jul Re: New birding website - BirdingNZ.net [Roger Radd ]
2 Jul Re: NZ Dotterel [Tom Marshall ]
03 Jul Re: New birding website - BirdingNZ.net [John Dowding ]
2 Jul Re: New birding website - BirdingNZ.net [Stephanie Mills ]
02 Jul New birding website - BirdingNZ.net []
2 Jul RE: Kaikoura Pelagic- 25-26 July ["Alex Thompson" ]
30 Jun Bitterns- Waikato- Lake Taharoa and surroundings- a bittern hotspot ? ["Peter Langlands" ]
30 Jun Bitterns- Waikato- Lake Taharoa and surroundings- a bittern hotspot ? ["Peter Langlands" ]
29 Jun Re: Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara ["pghfrost" ]
29 Jun Re: Northland Riflemen ["detlefdavies" ]
29 Jun RE: Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara ["Battley, Phil" ]
28 Jun Kaka In Cornwall Park 26th June ["Kevin Barker" ]
27 Jun RE: Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara ["Battley, Phil" ]
27 Jun Re: Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara [Jan Walker ]
27 Jun Niue birds ["Lloyd Esler" ]
27 Jun Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara [Shane McPherson ]
27 Jun Northland Riflemen [Simon Fordham ]
26 Jun Birdcall Recordist Honoured ["Kiwi Wildlife " ]
24 Jun Lake Hood, Canterbury ["Kathy & Erik" ]
23 Jun Bitterns in Australia- rapid decline ["Peter Langlands" ]
23 Jun Bitterns- islands on the lower Waikato River ["Peter Langlands" ]
21 Jun Kaikoura Pelagic- 25-26 July [Peter Langlands ]
22 Jun Bittern blog ["Peter Langlands" ]
21 Jun Holyfod River, Lake Ellesmere ["Kathy & Erik" ]
20 Jun RE: Possible Kestrel - Auckland [Iain Johnson ]
20 Jun dead whale ["Chris Petyt" ]
19 Jun No sign of Chestnut? Teal [Sav Saville ]
19 Jun No sign of Chestnut? Teal [Sav Saville ]
19 Jun No sign of Chestnut? Teal [Sav Saville ]
19 Jun White yellowhammer. ["rplatham" ]
19 Jun Albatross Beachwrecks [Shane McPherson ]
19 Jun Location of McLean's Farm Lake ["Peter Langlands" ]
18 Jun Re: Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak ["Suzi Phillips" ]
18 Jun RE: Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak ["Kiwi Wildlife " ]
18 Jun Re: Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak []
18 Jun Re: Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak [David Riddell & Annette Taylor ]
17 Jun Lake Hood, Ashburton, Canterbury ["Kathy & Erik" ]
17 Jun Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak ["Suzi Phillips" ]
17 Jun Re: Galahs at Last! ["Stuart Chambers" ]
16 Jun Galahs at Last! ["optikcop" ]
16 Jun falcon takes out myna [Rosemary Tully ]
16 Jun RE: Kaka - and falcon [Stuart & Jane Nicholson ]
16 Jun Nesflash for canty birders -poss gull-billed tern at Charlesworth Reserve this afternoon ["Crossland, Andrew" ]
16 Jun North-east Auckland Dotterel protection ["Suzi Phillips" ]
16 Jun Re: Kaka - and falcon [David Riddell & Annette Taylor ]
15 Jun Falcon norwest ["Suzi Phillips" ]
15 Jun Re: Request for bittern sightings from Taieri Oxbows- Scroll Plain- Upper Taieri ["bruce896387" ]
15 Jun Re: Auckland OSNZ conference-related bird sightings ["bruce896387" ]
15 Jun Re: Kaka in One Tree Hill this evening ["bruce896387" ]
15 Jun Re: Galahs: Annual Request ["David" ]
15 Jun Kaka [Duncan Watson ]
15 Jun Otaki teal (3) [Colin ]
14 Jun Re: Galahs: Annual Request [Phil Hammond ]
15 Jun RE: Galahs: Annual Request ["Wendy Hare & Nigel Milius" ]
15 Jun Kaka ["Alan Emmerson" ]

Subject: Re: Splitting Birding NZ: Two Primary Purposes?
From: "Suzi Phillips" <suzi AT dialogue.co.nz>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 22:09:25 +1200
Optikcop you seem to have a huge chip on your flight feathers ! You at least 
need therapy for your grannie phobia 8-) 


It's not clear from your conspiracy theory what you think you're missing out on 
?? There has been a steady stream of rare bird sightings on Birding NZ (from 
bird watchers and ornithologists) that can be followed up by any birder with 
the time and energy to pursue them. Just to name a few of the most memorable 
over recent years, there was the Ausi Reed Warbler in north Canterbury, the 
Channel-billed Cuckoo in the BOP, the White-throated Needletails on Stewart 
Island and GBI, the Kestrel up north, a Dollarbird on the West Coast and a dead 
one at Awhitu, the Fairy Martins at Tawh, the Barn Owls up north, the 
Straw-necked Ibis in Otago, etc etc I've chased a few of those and met quite a 
few other NZ birders doing the same. We don't feel ostracized ! If they feel 
it's warranted, some put in a rare bird report to the "establishment". 


Then there are those birders on BirdingNZ who ask for information on specific 
bird species like Rooks and hmmm Galahs (!?) and get a heap of useful emails 
from birders (both ornithologists and "ordinary" birders) on this Birding NZ 
list, telling them where they might find them. And yes, there are other 
sightings that can't be verified yet, like the Auckland north-western motorway 
kestrel, (but who are you to say it dosn't exist !?). 


Sorry if I missed the apparent schism between ornithologists and twitchers and 
other bird enthusiasts on this email group or in NZ ? It's as elusive to me as 
a kestrel on the north-western motorway is to you ! 


Your comparison of the RSPB to OSNZ is also like comparing apples and oranges ! 
OSNZ competes for the "ordinary bird enthusiast" with Forest and Bird. OSNZ may 
only have 1000 members, (most of them birders not ornithologists), but F&B - 
the Royal Forest and Bird PROTECTION Society (ie a conservation organisation) 
has 15,000 member families totalling at last estimate, about 40,000 individual 
supporters. (It is Forest and Bird that is the Birdlife International active 
partner for NZ like RSPB is for the UK, not OSNZ). 

If you do the maths again, and put 41,000 over our population of about 4 
million, you get 1 in 97.5 so lets round it up to 1 in 100 people go birding, 
support bird conservation etc in some shape or form. It's not so very far from 
the UK's 1 in 40 when we don't have any of the economies of scale or finances 
that the bigger numbers bring in. 


All the best,
Suzi



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Email v Web poll
From: "Neil Fitzgerald" <bird AT neilfitzgeraldphoto.co.nz>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 21:58:48 +1200
The feedback in the forum has been very helpful, thanks.

Only 8 votes in the poll as of a few minutes ago, which is not much to make
good decisions on. Surely that low number is not a true reflection of
BIRDING-NZs actual readership, or the level of interest of its members. It
is not very hard, and anyone having any difficulty registering etc. is
welcome to email, or give me a number I can call you on to help.

 

http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=32

 

Thanks,

Neil.

 

 

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Birding-NZ- simple yet effective
From: "Peter Langlands" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:18:44 -0000
Hi all.
I will certainly be staying with Birding-NZ. It is a very simple yet effective 
system. 

Regards 
Peter
Subject: Rakaia River Mouth
From: "Kathy & Erik" <forsythkd AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 21:02:35 +1200
Hi all

Visited the South side of the mouth between 2:30pm ad 4:30m today and
recorded.

Cape Barren Goose- a pair on a nearby field
Pukeko - a singleton in the adjascent marsh.
SIPO -  a pair flew past callling, heading South.
Variable Oystercatcher- a pair on the beach
Black-fronted Tern- 8
Black-backed Gull 300+
Black-billed Gull 70

Best wishes
Erik Forsyth


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Splitting Birding NZ: Two Primary Purposes?
From: "optikcop" <optikcop AT windowslive.com>
Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:57:06 -0000
Ok then, let's split up and go our separate ways – as soon as possible! This is 
the golden opportunity. Let's free the birding `establishment' from the 
distasteful spectacle of horrid yukkie twitchers cruising about the website in 
a feeding frenzy. God forbid that they might be enjoying seeing a bird, with a 
totally indecent lack of pretending to be scientists, eh? 

But seriously, I agree with the previous writer. Give both camps a site, and 
let the loser wither up and die. Or not. One site for Robin-stroking grannies 
and rocket netters, and another for people who urgently want to hone their 
field identification skills by looking at birds as and when they occur. Perhaps 
it might emerge that field ornithologists in New Zealand have a value, just 
like the rest of the world. 

And before we have another `twitcher lynching', let's ponder the situation on 
the UK: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has 1.5million 
members, all paying $140 per annum subs. The RSPB encourage everyone in the 
general population to GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY every and all birds. They 
actively engage the public, and report rare and interesting birds, and 
publicise twitches and top birding sites. No hint of exclusivity, secret 
whispers or "pah, you're not a scientist!" ! Let's ponder how come they are the 
richest conservation organisation in the world, who can buy up vast tracts of 
vital conservation land for the benefit of birds, and OSNZ only has 1000 
members…… 

That's one person in every 40 in UK, compared to one in 5000 here at home.
Spot the difference.
So Brent, why not make two separate new sites. We could have `BirdingChat-NZ' 
and `BirdFinder-NZ' or something similar. I'd be delighted to be a member of 
both. Birding-NZ is a super site, and we all enjoy good company there, I know I 
do. But what about those of us who came along for the original `primary 
purpose? Perhaps you can find a place for us old sharks to indulge our nasty 
rabid habits. Go on, be a sport….. 

Terry
Subject: Re: Achieving the primary purpose...
From: "bruce896387" <bruce896387 AT yahoo.com.au>
Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:47:20 -0000
For my ten cents worth I'd like to say that how they develop is a unknown when 
they first start up. This is part of the attractiveness of them. Also they are 
entirely a product of those that contribute. 


Whilst Brent might have established some objectives he thought were appropriate 
He's had no control over the other people who chose to contribute. 


The Birding group and other tools (such as eBird) are the changing face of 
ornithology in this day and age. Its up to us how we use these tools and where 
we go with them. 

Being open and inclusive is part of the challenge.

Bruce 

 --- In BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com, "Brent Stephenson"  wrote:
>
> Hi BIRDING-NZers, Terry,
> 
> I'm glad you enjoy BIRDING-NZ, another happy birder, but I'm afraid I
> have to strongly disagree with your statement that
> 
> "Having acknowledged that Birding NZ has never met it's own objectives"
> 
> Taking the one primary purpose statement out of the first two paragraphs
> on the homepage really puts the whole thing out of perspective.  These
> paragraphs read -
> 
> ----------------------
> This newsgroup is for the distribution of information regarding birding
> and birds in New Zealand. Its primary purpose is to enable birders to
> immediately broadcast rare/unusual bird sightings to other interested
> birders.
> 
> However, relevant information on birding, birding events, birding
> locations, and birds in New Zealand is also a function of the group. No
> commercial advertisements please. If posting advertisements for
> legitimate cost-sharing trips, please state this in the email.
> ----------------------
> 
> You will see that the primary purpose is in fact backed up pretty well
> with a number of other purposes, perhaps not explicitly numbered, but
> there all the same.  In fact the first sentence sums these up pretty
> well.  In light of this I think the newsgroup has more than achieved
> these goals, and with almost 500 members in a country that has only
> around 1000 members in its primary ornithological organisation (OSNZ) I
> think that speaks volumes!
> 
> Moreover, when I started BIRDING-NZ, the flow of information on bird
> sightings - rare, unusual, or otherwise (outside of wader censuses) was
> poor to say the least.  You'd either find out about it in Southern
> Bird/OSNZ News, or I remember turning up at OSNZ AGM after OSNZ AGM to
> hear about what I had missed around the country 2, 3, 6+ months earlier
> in the year.  I fail to see how BIRDING-NZ has not vastly improved this
> with reporting of rarities or unusual birds, sometimes within hours?
> Northland Barn owls, Northland kestrel, uncommon waders around
> Kaipara/Manukau/Miranda/Manawatu on numerous occasions, rare/unusual
> seabirds around the country, common terns from all over the country,
> Arctic terns from Canterbury/Otago, whistling ducks in Southern Hawkes
> Bay, etc etc... the list goes on.  Not to mention the reporting of the
> first sighting of NZ storm-petrel via this newsgroup.
> 
> In my mind, and it has always been the sentiments of the OSNZ Rare Bird
> Committee (if I may so boldly speak on their behalf) "totally unreliable
> half-cocked bird reports" are welcomed, because occasionally amongst
> these you find a real gem that turns out to be something really
> good...the NZ Rare Bird reports have many cases of this.  At least where
> possible these allow others to get out and investigate and clarify the
> situation.
> 
> I also recall on a number of occasions seeing people informing members
> of planned trips/twitches and cost-share options - I've even done it
> myself.
> 
> So I think, and I hope I'm not alone here (or perhaps I'm deluded?),
> that BIRDING-NZ has more than achieved its purpose.  The community that
> has grown from it I think has only strengthened what we already had, and
> I hope has encouraged a whole host of people from all walks of life to
> join in their common interest - BIRDS and BIRDING.  One thing I have
> always been proud of is that the members of BIRDING-NZ have always
> remained civil and good natured, anyone who has been a member of some of
> the other overseas birding newsgroups/forums will know what I mean!
> 
> Keep the discussion coming, it's great to see more and more people's
> opinions, and all are valuable contributions.  Thanks to those who have
> already responded.  Neil and I are certainly open to taking everyone's
> opinion seriously, so please keep up the good work.  After all any
> changes made are made in the best interests of this birding community.
> 
> Regards and many thanks,
> Brent
> 
> Brent Stephenson PhD (Ornithology)
> Eco-Vista: Photography & Research + Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ - "Great
> birds, real birders"
> PO Box 8291, Havelock North 4157, New Zealand
> Phone +64 6 877 6388   Fax +64 6 877 6300   Cell +64 274 426 638
> email brent AT ... or brent AT ...
> web http://www.eco-vista.com and http://www.wrybill-tours.com
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of optikcop
> Sent: Saturday, 4 July 2009 16:12
> To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Re. The Future of Birding NZ
> 
> THIS NEWSGROUP's PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO ENABLE BIRDERS TO IMMEDIATELY
> BROADCAST
> RARE/UNUSUAL BIRD SIGHTINGS TO OTHER INTERESTED BIRDERS. This is the
> core
> mission statement at the heading of Birding NZ's home page.
> 
> So, has Birding NZ achieved this purpose, as Brent hopes?
> 
> Well, I wish it had. But taking a look back at over 8000 messages, it's
> clear
> that only a tiny percentage of the postings are in any way `immediate
> broadcasts
> of rare bird sightings' to enable other birders to take any appropriate
> action,
> ie. go and see them.
> Most messages are simple chitty-chat (amongst other things) about who's
> seen a
> Shining Cuckoo this year, what foreign owls to introduce, or what the
> little
> birdies are doing in the back garden right now. Much of the other
> content is
> politics, posturing pseudo-scientists or totally unreliable half-cocked
> bird
> reports. The non-existent Brolga, Fairy Martins and Kestrel are good
> recent
> examples of this. Sadly, the only positive reports seem to come from
> people who
> have just RETURNED from a trip and use Birding NZ as a forum to announce
> what
> they saw, and you didn't. Perhaps the objectives of the newsgroup might
> have
> been better served if they'd posted a message first, suggesting a car
> and cost
> share to enable others to see it as well? In these carbon-conscious
> times, how
> about a bit more of that?
> Sadly, it's our national sickness of "we despise anyone suspected of
> twitching"
> that will always prevent sites like Birding NZ from working, wether in
> this or
> any new format. Anyone daring to ENJOY birding for it's own sake it sure
> to get
> shot down in flames. No wonder few people are brave enough to "BROADCAST
> RARE/UNUSUAL BIRD SIGHTINGS TO OTHER BIRDERS".
> Nope it's all doomed to failure. Forget the new technology, it's a new
> attitude
> that's required here. But what that is, we won't find out - it's
> probably a
> secret, like the whereabouts of any good birds this weekend...
> 
> Having acknowledged that Birding NZ has never met it's own objectives, I
> must add that I never miss a day reading it. This is a great community
> containing some 
> good-natured and informative naturalists, and is much enjoyed. Even if
> it doesn't
> acheive what it was set up for, it's still a damned good place to be.
> Thanks for some great reads!
> 
> 
> Terry
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent StephensonYahoo! Groups Links
>
Subject: Achieving the primary purpose...
From: "Brent Stephenson" <brent AT wrybill-tours.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 17:31:35 +1200
Hi BIRDING-NZers, Terry,

I'm glad you enjoy BIRDING-NZ, another happy birder, but I'm afraid I
have to strongly disagree with your statement that

"Having acknowledged that Birding NZ has never met it's own objectives"

Taking the one primary purpose statement out of the first two paragraphs
on the homepage really puts the whole thing out of perspective.  These
paragraphs read -

----------------------
This newsgroup is for the distribution of information regarding birding
and birds in New Zealand. Its primary purpose is to enable birders to
immediately broadcast rare/unusual bird sightings to other interested
birders.

However, relevant information on birding, birding events, birding
locations, and birds in New Zealand is also a function of the group. No
commercial advertisements please. If posting advertisements for
legitimate cost-sharing trips, please state this in the email.
----------------------

You will see that the primary purpose is in fact backed up pretty well
with a number of other purposes, perhaps not explicitly numbered, but
there all the same.  In fact the first sentence sums these up pretty
well.  In light of this I think the newsgroup has more than achieved
these goals, and with almost 500 members in a country that has only
around 1000 members in its primary ornithological organisation (OSNZ) I
think that speaks volumes!

Moreover, when I started BIRDING-NZ, the flow of information on bird
sightings - rare, unusual, or otherwise (outside of wader censuses) was
poor to say the least.  You'd either find out about it in Southern
Bird/OSNZ News, or I remember turning up at OSNZ AGM after OSNZ AGM to
hear about what I had missed around the country 2, 3, 6+ months earlier
in the year.  I fail to see how BIRDING-NZ has not vastly improved this
with reporting of rarities or unusual birds, sometimes within hours?
Northland Barn owls, Northland kestrel, uncommon waders around
Kaipara/Manukau/Miranda/Manawatu on numerous occasions, rare/unusual
seabirds around the country, common terns from all over the country,
Arctic terns from Canterbury/Otago, whistling ducks in Southern Hawkes
Bay, etc etc... the list goes on.  Not to mention the reporting of the
first sighting of NZ storm-petrel via this newsgroup.

In my mind, and it has always been the sentiments of the OSNZ Rare Bird
Committee (if I may so boldly speak on their behalf) "totally unreliable
half-cocked bird reports" are welcomed, because occasionally amongst
these you find a real gem that turns out to be something really
good...the NZ Rare Bird reports have many cases of this.  At least where
possible these allow others to get out and investigate and clarify the
situation.

I also recall on a number of occasions seeing people informing members
of planned trips/twitches and cost-share options - I've even done it
myself.

So I think, and I hope I'm not alone here (or perhaps I'm deluded?),
that BIRDING-NZ has more than achieved its purpose.  The community that
has grown from it I think has only strengthened what we already had, and
I hope has encouraged a whole host of people from all walks of life to
join in their common interest - BIRDS and BIRDING.  One thing I have
always been proud of is that the members of BIRDING-NZ have always
remained civil and good natured, anyone who has been a member of some of
the other overseas birding newsgroups/forums will know what I mean!

Keep the discussion coming, it's great to see more and more people's
opinions, and all are valuable contributions.  Thanks to those who have
already responded.  Neil and I are certainly open to taking everyone's
opinion seriously, so please keep up the good work.  After all any
changes made are made in the best interests of this birding community.

Regards and many thanks,
Brent

Brent Stephenson PhD (Ornithology)
Eco-Vista: Photography & Research + Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ - "Great
birds, real birders"
PO Box 8291, Havelock North 4157, New Zealand
Phone +64 6 877 6388   Fax +64 6 877 6300   Cell +64 274 426 638
email brent AT eco-vista.com or brent AT wrybill-tours.com
web http://www.eco-vista.com and http://www.wrybill-tours.com
 

-----Original Message-----
From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of optikcop
Sent: Saturday, 4 July 2009 16:12
To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Re. The Future of Birding NZ

THIS NEWSGROUP's PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO ENABLE BIRDERS TO IMMEDIATELY
BROADCAST
RARE/UNUSUAL BIRD SIGHTINGS TO OTHER INTERESTED BIRDERS. This is the
core
mission statement at the heading of Birding NZ's home page.

So, has Birding NZ achieved this purpose, as Brent hopes?

Well, I wish it had. But taking a look back at over 8000 messages, it's
clear
that only a tiny percentage of the postings are in any way `immediate
broadcasts
of rare bird sightings' to enable other birders to take any appropriate
action,
ie. go and see them.
Most messages are simple chitty-chat (amongst other things) about who's
seen a
Shining Cuckoo this year, what foreign owls to introduce, or what the
little
birdies are doing in the back garden right now. Much of the other
content is
politics, posturing pseudo-scientists or totally unreliable half-cocked
bird
reports. The non-existent Brolga, Fairy Martins and Kestrel are good
recent
examples of this. Sadly, the only positive reports seem to come from
people who
have just RETURNED from a trip and use Birding NZ as a forum to announce
what
they saw, and you didn't. Perhaps the objectives of the newsgroup might
have
been better served if they'd posted a message first, suggesting a car
and cost
share to enable others to see it as well? In these carbon-conscious
times, how
about a bit more of that?
Sadly, it's our national sickness of "we despise anyone suspected of
twitching"
that will always prevent sites like Birding NZ from working, wether in
this or
any new format. Anyone daring to ENJOY birding for it's own sake it sure
to get
shot down in flames. No wonder few people are brave enough to "BROADCAST
RARE/UNUSUAL BIRD SIGHTINGS TO OTHER BIRDERS".
Nope it's all doomed to failure. Forget the new technology, it's a new
attitude
that's required here. But what that is, we won't find out - it's
probably a
secret, like the whereabouts of any good birds this weekend...

Having acknowledged that Birding NZ has never met it's own objectives, I
must add that I never miss a day reading it. This is a great community
containing some 
good-natured and informative naturalists, and is much enjoyed. Even if
it doesn't
acheive what it was set up for, it's still a damned good place to be.
Thanks for some great reads!


Terry






------------------------------------

BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent StephensonYahoo! Groups Links
Subject: Re: The future of BIRDING-NZ...and BIRDINGNZ.Net
From: Chris Sanderson <chris.sanderson AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 15:01:27 +1000
Hi Brent,

Firstly, thanks for having set this group up, and going to the trouble of
asking what we think about the ideas you are having.  I would suggest that
there is a place for both the website and the mailing list here, but I feel
that in fulfilling the primary objective, as a rare bird notification tool,
you are far better having the mailing list.  I check my email many times a
day, but I will never check a forum more than once a day, usually less.  So
in terms of spreading the word, I suspect you will find a forum/website
considerably less effective at achieving that goal.  A forum may, however
facilitate discussion on other aspects of NZ birds, and in particular is a
great way to collate frequently requested information (in pinned notes at
the top of forum topics) so that the same questions aren't asked over and
over.

My suggestion is to try and keep both alive and let them evolve to see what
happens.  If one dies because of lack of interest, you have your answer.

Regards,
Chris

On Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 9:53 AM, Brent Stephenson 
wrote: 


>
>
> Good morning all,
>
> I first started BIRDING-NZ back in Nov 2001 in the hope that we would be
> able to form some sort of online community, through which birders could
> learn of and disseminate birding information rapidly. Now, almost 8
> years down the track we have almost 500 members, and I really feel WE
> have achieved the goal I set out to accomplish.
>
> Over the last few years bulletin boards and forums have increased in
> popularity. On more than one occasion in the last few years I've had
> emails from members of BIRDING-NZ calling for 'a more modern approach'.
> Some of these have been a little on the nose, but you can't please
> everybody.
>
> Compelling reasons for these 'more modern' approaches - bulletin boards
> and forums - are topped by.
>
> - better personal security due to email addresses not being
> available to the wrong people
> - ability to upload images, maps, documents, etc for all users
> to see with less concern of viruses
> - easier to follow 'threads' (to us 'simple people' a thread is
> the full discussion that results from an email post on a new subject)
> - perhaps more obvious archiving facility and search options
>
> It should be noted that archiving and searching work fine for BIRDING-NZ
> through the Yahoo website, but this has probably often been overlooked
> by members. A full archive of 8425 messages (at the time of writing)
> can be found there.
>
> However, as with all good things, they come at a price. These new
> approaches require more than just downloading your email quickly
> (perhaps whilst travelling or in a hurry) to read that reply to your
> request, or to see what rare birds/vagrants have turned up, or to just
> stay in touch. With current increases in technology, communications,
> and the ability to be 'online' almost anywhere in the World for many
> people this is not a problem. Logging on at night and quickly checking
> the forum, or having it in the background whilst you work during the day
> can be relatively simple. However, I do wonder how many members of
> BIRDING-NZ, whether an active or closet reader, will find this more
> interactive approach inconvenient? There is only one way to find out
> and that is to float a new technology and see how widely it is embraced.
>
> Neil has done a fantastic job putting BirdingNZ.Net together. There has
> been a lot of thought and hard work involved, and I'm very pleased and
> grateful to be a part of this. There are very good arguments for this
> new approach, it may not be for everybody, but likewise BIRDING-NZ with
> its 'black-and-white' technology seemed not to suit everybody as well.
>
> The potential danger we have here is in dividing the already small
> birding community in New Zealand, and thereby loosing important
> information, or worst still creating some sort of rift. There is no
> easy way to overcome this, although I know many members will remain
> active in both, and hopefully can help with this migration. I can't say
> for sure whether the newsgroup itself will become defunct, because that
> is completely out of my hands. That is entirely for you, the members,
> to decide, and why at this stage BIRDING-NZ will not cease to exist.
> The archives will remain online whilst there are still members, and
> hopefully thereafter, although this is at the whim of Yahoo as Neil
> states.
>
> I'm very interested in further thoughts and discussion by the members on
> this, as I'm sure many of you are. BIRDING-NZ has done a great job, I'm
> very happy with what we have achieved, and I think now is a better time
> than any to see how we can make this birding community better. Take a
> look at BirdingNZ.Net and let us know your thoughts.
>
> Regards and many thanks,
> Brent
>
> Brent Stephenson PhD (Ornithology)
> Eco-Vista: Photography & Research + Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ - "Great
> birds, real birders"
> PO Box 8291, Havelock North 4157, New Zealand
> Phone +64 6 877 6388 Fax +64 6 877 6300 Cell +64 274 426 638
> email brent AT eco-vista.com  or
> brent AT wrybill-tours.com 
> web http://www.eco-vista.com and http://www.wrybill-tours.com
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Email or web based forum?
From: Jan Walker <shesagreen AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 16:31:45 +1200
I'm happy to try it
if only I could log on, apparently I am registered
but can't seem to get any further. And how do you vote?
8 people's votes aren't exactly statistically significant.

My feeling is that you will lose the interest of a whole load of older
people that are on birding-NZ
but can't cope with the language you are using which is fine for folk who
sit at computers all day,
but leaves a lot of us gasping and switching off.

Cheers,
Jan


On Sat, Jul 4, 2009 at 8:40 AM, Neil Fitzgerald <
bird AT neilfitzgeraldphoto.co.nz> wrote:

>
>
> No doubt a major concern about the proposed shift from this newsgroup to a
> web-based discussion forum is around how you interact with the community
> and
> exchange the information you want. Open your email client, or open a web
> browser? I've started a poll to try to gauge this:
>
> http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5
>  &t=32
>
> Please visit, vote, and elaborate on your thoughts if you like (especially
> if you have special requirements that we might not have considered) so we
> can best cater for the needs of the birding community.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Neil.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> 
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re. The Future of Birding NZ
From: "optikcop" <optikcop AT windowslive.com>
Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:12:03 -0000
THIS NEWSGROUP's PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO ENABLE BIRDERS TO IMMEDIATELY BROADCAST
RARE/UNUSUAL BIRD SIGHTINGS TO OTHER INTERESTED BIRDERS. This is the core
mission statement at the heading of Birding NZ's home page.

So, has Birding NZ achieved this purpose, as Brent hopes?

Well, I wish it had. But taking a look back at over 8000 messages, it's clear
that only a tiny percentage of the postings are in any way `immediate 
broadcasts 

of rare bird sightings' to enable other birders to take any appropriate action,
ie. go and see them.
Most messages are simple chitty-chat (amongst other things) about who's seen a
Shining Cuckoo this year, what foreign owls to introduce, or what the little
birdies are doing in the back garden right now. Much of the other content is
politics, posturing pseudo-scientists or totally unreliable half-cocked bird
reports. The non-existent Brolga, Fairy Martins and Kestrel are good recent
examples of this. Sadly, the only positive reports seem to come from people who
have just RETURNED from a trip and use Birding NZ as a forum to announce what
they saw, and you didn't. Perhaps the objectives of the newsgroup might have
been better served if they'd posted a message first, suggesting a car and cost
share to enable others to see it as well? In these carbon-conscious times, how
about a bit more of that?
Sadly, it's our national sickness of "we despise anyone suspected of twitching"
that will always prevent sites like Birding NZ from working, wether in this or
any new format. Anyone daring to ENJOY birding for it's own sake it sure to get
shot down in flames. No wonder few people are brave enough to "BROADCAST
RARE/UNUSUAL BIRD SIGHTINGS TO OTHER BIRDERS".
Nope it's all doomed to failure. Forget the new technology, it's a new attitude
that's required here. But what that is, we won't find out – it's probably a
secret, like the whereabouts of any good birds this weekend…….

Having acknowledged that Birding NZ has never met it's own objectives, I
must add that I never miss a day reading it. This is a great community 
containing some 

good-natured and informative naturalists, and is much enjoyed. Even if it 
doesn't 

acheive what it was set up for, it's still a damned good place to be. Thanks 
for some great reads! 



Terry
Subject: Re. The Future of Birding NZ
From: "optikcop" <optikcop AT windowslive.com>
Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:03:15 -0000
THIS NEWSGROUP's PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO ENABLE BIRDERS TO IMMEDIATELY BROADCAST 
RARE/UNUSUAL BIRD SIGHTINGS TO OTHER INTERESTED BIRDERS. This is the core 
mission statement at the heading of Birding NZ's home page. 


So, has Birding NZ achieved this purpose,  as Brent hopes?

Well, I wish it had. But taking a look back at over 8000 messages, it's clear 
that only a tiny percentage of the postings are in any way `immediate 
broadcasts of rare bird sightings' to enable other birders to take any 
appropriate action, ie. go and see them. 

Most messages are simple chitty-chat (amongst other things) about who's seen a 
Shining Cuckoo this year, what foreign owls to introduce, or what the little 
birdies are doing in the back garden right now. Much of the other content is 
politics, posturing pseudo-scientists or totally unreliable half-cocked bird 
reports. The non-existent Brolga, Fairy Martins and Kestrel are good recent 
examples of this. Sadly, the only positive reports seem to come from people who 
have just RETURNED from a trip and use Birding NZ as a forum to announce what 
they saw, and you didn't. Perhaps the objectives of the newsgroup might have 
been better served if they'd posted a message first, suggesting a car and cost 
share to enable others to see it as well? In these carbon-conscious times, how 
about a bit more of that? 

Sadly, it's our national sickness of "we despise anyone suspected of twitching" 
that will always prevent sites like Birding NZ from working, wether in this or 
any new format. Anyone daring to ENJOY birding for it's own sake it sure to get 
shot down in flames. No wonder few people are brave enough to "BROADCAST 
RARE/UNUSUAL BIRD SIGHTINGS TO OTHER BIRDERS". 

Nope it's all doomed to failure. Forget the new technology, it's a new attitude 
that's required here. But what that is, we won't find out – it's probably a 
secret, like the whereabouts of any good birds this weekend……. 


Having acknowledged that Birding NZ has never met it's own objectives however, 
I must add that I never miss a day reading it. This is a great community of 
good-natured and informative naturalists, and is much enjoyed. Even it doesn't 
acheive what it was set up for, it's still a damned good place to be! 


     
Terry
Subject: old vs new
From: John Dowding <jdowding AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:26:34 +1200
For me, the material that¹s posted is far more important than the format.
I¹m much less concerned about how flash the site looks or how user-friendly
it is, than about the content.

I have to say I¹ve been impressed by the content on the email group. I
assumed at the outset that it would be largely relevant to those chasing
rarities, something I have absolutely no interest in. It has served that
purpose, but among other things it¹s also used by many people to post lists
and counts of more common birds. Over time, those posts have built into a
useful resource. I regularly pull counts of various shorebird species from
those lists and file them away in a spreadsheet.

Whether the new site is useful to me will depend on whether people post that
kind of information. The front page lists the distribution of details about
rarities as a ³key goal² (and doesn¹t actually mention any other goals), so
I guess we can only wait and see.

As for email vs website, simplicity has some virtues. Having all posts
arriving automatically via the email group is more convenient for me
personally. It¹s very little effort to scan them quickly and delete the ones
I¹m not interested in. Visiting a website, I¹d probably have to scan lots of
posts to find things I¹m interested in anyway, and I¹d always wonder whether
I¹d missed any information hidden away in a thread with a title that doesn¹t
grab my attention. If the site is searchable, that could be less of a
problem.

Bottom line for me is content over appearance.

John


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Website vs email list
From: David Adams <dpadams AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 12:08:05 +1000
On Sat, Jul 4, 2009 at 8:06 AM, David Adams wrote:

> I feel the same as I follow too many lists to log into individual Web
> sites for each one. I've just had a look and it seems that the forum
> software enables you to 'subscribe to forum'. If this works like other
> phpBB-based sites, I'll end up with a copy of each new post in my
> in-box. Hopefully that's the case as while I prefer to see posts by
> email, a Web-based system offers a wealth of advantages.

Unfortunately, what you get is a long email saying that there's new
activity in the thread. That's not entirely useless...but close, for
those of us that prefer not to have to visit the Web site
continuously. Much more helpful would be an option to get the
individual post. People that don't want to receive emails don't need
to.
Subject: Re: Website vs email list
From: Wynston & /or Lorraine Cooper <lorwyn AT paradise.net.nz>
Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:49:03 +1200
Well said Suzi. Far better articulated than my effort.

Cheers
Wynston

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Suzi Phillips 
  To: Birding NZ 
  Sent: Saturday, July 04, 2009 9:54 AM
  Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Website vs email list





 I'll be sorry to see the demise of the Birding-NZ email list, if that is 
what's proposed by the new website. 


 While I appreciate the benefits of Neil's website, the one thing it dosn't 
have is convenience. 


 As a member of Birding NZ I don't have to go online to network, I can monitor 
incoming bird sightings and info as I work, as they come to my inbox without 
any effort to seek them out. This integrates this aspect of bird networking 
into everything I'm doing on the computer during the day. If I need to respond, 
I can do it when it suits. 


 The Birding NZ website and forums is a different style for a different 
purpose. You go there to engage. It's more proactive and so it requires more 
time. Maybe that's what the 500 members of the Birding NZ list want, but I 
doubt it. Most of us just want to keep in touch with what's happening as it is 
reported, and contribute when we have something to add. 


  Best regards,
  Suzi

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



  


------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
 Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.3/2217 - Release Date: 07/03/09 
18:11:00 


  ----------


No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.3/2217 - Release Date: 07/03/09 
18:11:00 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: OSNZ winter census Top of South Island
From: "Rob Schuckard" <rschckrd AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 12:34:43 +1200
Dear all, 

A team of 15 people counted  between 21/6/09 and 29/6/09 the Top of South
Island.  In general a very good census with rapidly  changing weather
conditions. Main count at Farewell Spit took place in very sunny and warm
condition, a sharp contrast to the many parts  of the rest of the country. 

In total 26155 shorebirds were counted, 11% arctic migrants and 89% endemic
shorebirds. Of all shorebirds, 40% was recorded at Farewell Spit, 35 % in
Golden Bay and 25% in Tasman Bay. Very noticeable was the complete lack of
Ruddy Turnstones, only 3 at Motueka Sandspit and 1 at Farewell Spit. This
may well reflect a very poor breeding season last year and it would be of
interest to see the numbers  in other parts of the country. On the bright
site, the number of  Banded Dotterels was the highest ever recorded at
Farewell Spit, 1921. Golden Bay had a  second consecutive year of very high
numbers of  Pied Oystercatchers. Where numbers since 1998  varied between
1000 and 2000, in 2008 and 2009, there has been a sudden jump to around
8000, a very significant change. 

Kind Regards

Rob

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Website vs email list
From: "Suzi Phillips" <suzi AT dialogue.co.nz>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 09:54:05 +1200
I'll be sorry to see the demise of the Birding-NZ email list, if that is what's 
proposed by the new website. 


While I appreciate the benefits of Neil's website, the one thing it dosn't have 
is convenience. 


As a member of Birding NZ I don't have to go online to network, I can monitor 
incoming bird sightings and info as I work, as they come to my inbox without 
any effort to seek them out. This integrates this aspect of bird networking 
into everything I'm doing on the computer during the day. If I need to respond, 
I can do it when it suits. 


The Birding NZ website and forums is a different style for a different purpose. 
You go there to engage. It's more proactive and so it requires more time. Maybe 
that's what the 500 members of the Birding NZ list want, but I doubt it. Most 
of us just want to keep in touch with what's happening as it is reported, and 
contribute when we have something to add. 

  
Best regards,
Suzi

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Email or web based forum?
From: "Neil Fitzgerald" <bird AT neilfitzgeraldphoto.co.nz>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 08:40:35 +1200
No doubt a major concern about the proposed shift from this newsgroup to a
web-based discussion forum is around how you interact with the community and
exchange the information you want. Open your email client, or open a web
browser? I've started a poll to try to gauge this: 

http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5
 &t=32

 

Please visit, vote, and elaborate on your thoughts if you like (especially
if you have special requirements that we might not have considered) so we
can best cater for the needs of the birding community.

 

Thanks,

Neil.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: The future of BIRDING-NZ...and BIRDINGNZ.Net
From: Wynston & /or Lorraine Cooper <lorwyn AT paradise.net.nz>
Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:52:46 +1200
Hi everyone

I see each site serving a different role - the original BIRDING-NZ as a site to 
record interesting or unusual sightings/records (its original purpose), and the 
new BIRDINGNZ as the site to engage in discussion on issues. 

Both have a purpose and, if each is adhered to it will make it a lot easier for 
those who just want to keep an eye on what species are around and where. 
Similarly those wanting to express there views on issues will be able to do so 
without boring or distracting those who aren't interested in ongoing 
discussions of the sort that we have from time to time experienced on 
BIRDING-NZ. 


In short I think the two sites are a great idea. Well done Neil and Brent!

Wynston Cooper
  ----------


No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.2/2215 - Release Date: 07/02/09 
18:06:00 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Kereru in Hoon Hay
From: "Peter Langlands" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:34:37 -0000
After living for 35 years in Hooon Hay I saw my first kereru from home today, 
feeding on small berries on the tree across the road. Something special about 
the first sighting from home.
Subject: The future of BIRDING-NZ...and BIRDINGNZ.Net
From: "Brent Stephenson" <brent AT wrybill-tours.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:53:42 +1200
Good morning all,
 
I first started BIRDING-NZ back in Nov 2001 in the hope that we would be
able to form some sort of online community, through which birders could
learn of and disseminate birding information rapidly.  Now, almost 8
years down the track we have almost 500 members, and I really feel WE
have achieved the goal I set out to accomplish.
 
Over the last few years bulletin boards and forums have increased in
popularity.  On more than one occasion in the last few years I've had
emails from members of BIRDING-NZ calling for 'a more modern approach'.
Some of these have been a little on the nose, but you can't please
everybody.
 
Compelling reasons for these 'more modern' approaches - bulletin boards
and forums - are topped by.
 
-          better personal security due to email addresses not being
available to the wrong people
-          ability to upload images, maps, documents, etc for all users
to see with less concern of viruses
-          easier to follow 'threads' (to us 'simple people' a thread is
the full discussion that results from an email post on a new subject)
-          perhaps more obvious archiving facility and search options
 
It should be noted that archiving and searching work fine for BIRDING-NZ
through the Yahoo website, but this has probably often been overlooked
by members.  A full archive of 8425 messages (at the time of writing)
can be found there.
 
However, as with all good things, they come at a price.  These new
approaches require more than just downloading your email quickly
(perhaps whilst travelling or in a hurry) to read that reply to your
request, or to see what rare birds/vagrants have turned up, or to just
stay in touch.  With current increases in technology, communications,
and the ability to be 'online' almost anywhere in the World for many
people this is not a problem.  Logging on at night and quickly checking
the forum, or having it in the background whilst you work during the day
can be relatively simple.  However, I do wonder how many members of
BIRDING-NZ, whether an active or closet reader, will find this more
interactive approach inconvenient?  There is only one way to find out
and that is to float a new technology and see how widely it is embraced.
 
Neil has done a fantastic job putting BirdingNZ.Net together.  There has
been a lot of thought and hard work involved, and I'm very pleased and
grateful to be a part of this.  There are very good arguments for this
new approach, it may not be for everybody, but likewise BIRDING-NZ with
its 'black-and-white' technology seemed not to suit everybody as well.
 
The potential danger we have here is in dividing the already small
birding community in New Zealand, and thereby loosing important
information, or worst still creating some sort of rift.  There is no
easy way to overcome this, although I know many members will remain
active in both, and hopefully can help with this migration.  I can't say
for sure whether the newsgroup itself will become defunct, because that
is completely out of my hands.  That is entirely for you, the members,
to decide, and why at this stage BIRDING-NZ will not cease to exist.
The archives will remain online whilst there are still members, and
hopefully thereafter, although this is at the whim of Yahoo as Neil
states.  
 
I'm very interested in further thoughts and discussion by the members on
this, as I'm sure many of you are.  BIRDING-NZ has done a great job, I'm
very happy with what we have achieved, and I think now is a better time
than any to see how we can make this birding community better.  Take a
look at BirdingNZ.Net and let us know your thoughts.
 
Regards and many thanks,
Brent
 
Brent Stephenson PhD (Ornithology)
Eco-Vista: Photography & Research + Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ - "Great
birds, real birders"
PO Box 8291, Havelock North 4157, New Zealand
Phone +64 6 877 6388   Fax +64 6 877 6300   Cell +64 274 426 638
email brent AT eco-vista.com or brent AT wrybill-tours.com
web http://www.eco-vista.com and http://www.wrybill-tours.com
 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: New birding website - BirdingNZ.net
From: "Neil Fitzgerald" <bird AT neilfitzgeraldphoto.co.nz>
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:17:43 +1200
Brent can answer for himself but I will just say that it is our intention
that the Yahoo Group archive will remain as accessible as always (i.e. at
the whim of Yahoo) regardless of what else happens. In a few minutes there
will be a link to the Yahoo archive on the BirdingNZ.net links page.
Unfortunately it is not possible to migrate a Yahoo Group to another
platform. Just one of its limitations IMO. If BirdingNZ.net falls on its
face, I am willing to accept the failure.

 

Neil.

 

 

  _____  

From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of John Dowding
Sent: Friday, 3 July 2009 10:21 a.m.
To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] New birding website - BirdingNZ.net

 






³BIRDING-NZ will not altogether cease to exist...² is a little vague, to say
the least.

Brent, it would be useful to have some indication of your hopes and
intentions here. At the moment, we appear to be in a position where everyone
has to belong to both groups until we find out whether one or both will
survive. Do you anticipate there will be a wholesale shift of membership to
the new site, or does the original Birding-NZ have features that argue for
its long-term survival alongside the new site?

Certainly there is potential for huge confusion with one site called
Birding-NZ and the other BirdingNZ if both do survive.

And it would be good to have an assurance that even if Birding-NZ does not
survive, the archives from it will remain available.

John

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: New birding website - BirdingNZ.net
From: Roger Radd <kiwi AT commspeed.net>
Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:49:41 -0700
Thanks Neil, for this significant advance. Participants will soon see that 
threaded conversations, images within posts, rich and hyperlinked text, and 
an highly accessible archive are overwhelmingly attractive and useful 
components for the NZ birding community. You won't miss all that junk at 
the bottom of every post either ...

Hopefully the Yahoo group will soon become a nostalgic throwback like black 
and white TV - something to tell the kids about but nothing you really want 
back.

Thanks again, Neil!

/Roger


----------

At 02:22 PM 7/2/2009, bird AT neilfitzgeraldphoto.co.nz wrote:
>Things change  though, and a more modern platform which has been widely 
>adopted
>elsewhere is online ‘bulletin boards’ or ‘forums’.
>
>
>A few of the features of BirdingNZ.net:
>
>·         Include images in your posts
>·         Easy following of ‘threaded’ topics
>·         Easily search the forums
>·         Customizable settings via the ‘User Control Panel’
>·         Send private messages to other users
>·         Email addresses are not publicly available thereby reducing
>potential for viruses or improper use
>
>Websites are like gardens, good ones are never finished. We have a few
>things in mind for the future, and your feedback is always appreciated.
>
>Thanks also to the folks who took the time to test it out and give
>helpful feedback.
>
>
>
>Neil.
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent StephensonYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.2/2214 - Release Date: 07/02/09 
>05:54:00
Subject: Re: NZ Dotterel
From: Tom Marshall <tmarshalluk AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:36:42 -0700 (PDT)
Hi all,

Many thanks to those of you who gave me some excellent details on where to find 
NZ dotterel up north, for those who would like to see the results, you're 
welcome to click here: (the images run over a couple of pages, click the 
thumbnails for a bigger view) 


http://www.flickr.com/photos/30550693 AT N04/

I'll be making some of these available to conservation groups to help raise 
awareness, as a lot of the images on some of the information boards didn't do 
these little stunners justice! 


Prints are available if anyone would like them, just ask.

Thanks again,

Tom.
Subject: Re: New birding website - BirdingNZ.net
From: John Dowding <jdowding AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:20:36 +1200
³BIRDING-NZ will not altogether cease to exist...² is a little vague, to say
the least.

Brent, it would be useful to have some indication of your hopes and
intentions here. At the moment, we appear to be in a position where everyone
has to belong to both groups until we find out whether one or both will
survive. Do you anticipate there will be a wholesale shift of membership to
the new site, or does the original Birding-NZ have features that argue for
its long-term survival alongside the new site?

Certainly there is potential for huge confusion with one site called
Birding-NZ and the other BirdingNZ if both do survive.

And it would be good to have an assurance that even if Birding-NZ does not
survive, the archives from it will remain available.

John





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: New birding website - BirdingNZ.net
From: Stephanie Mills <millsszabo AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:28:05 -0700 (PDT)
I'd like to hear from Brent about this significant development since he has put 
in so much time and effort. 


What do others think?

Happy birding
Michael




________________________________
From: "bird AT neilfitzgeraldphoto.co.nz" 
To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, 3 July, 2009 9:22:32 AM
Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] New birding website - BirdingNZ.net





This BIRDING-NZ Yahoo Group has become a fantastic resource for New 
Zealand birders over the past few years. I’ve certainly got a lot from 
it and I’m sure we all appreciate the huge amount of time and effort 
Brent has put into BIRDING-NZ for almost a decade now. Things change 
though, and a more modern platform which has been widely adopted 
elsewhere is online ‘bulletin boards’ or ‘forums’.

Last month I started to build a new website, including a discussion 
forum which will hopefully help the birding community in New Zealand. 
It is great to have Brent on board helping with the new site. With his 
dedication and knowledge I think we can continue to develop birding in 
NZ.

While there tend to be some downsides to any change, I think (hope) 
the benefits will out way them for the majority. We don’t want to 
divide and potentially loose valuable information and sightings, so we 
ask that all BIRDING-NZers give it a chance, go to www.BirdingNZ. net, 
sign up and start posting. BIRDING-NZ will not altogether cease to 
exist, although we will carefully review usage at some stage in the 
future.

A few of the features of BirdingNZ.net:

· Include images in your posts
· Easy following of ‘threaded’ topics
· Easily search the forums
· Customizable settings via the ‘User Control Panel’
· Send private messages to other users
· Email addresses are not publicly available thereby reducing 
potential for viruses or improper use

Websites are like gardens, good ones are never finished. We have a few 
things in mind for the future, and your feedback is always appreciated.

Thanks also to the folks who took the time to test it out and give 
helpful feedback.

Neil.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: New birding website - BirdingNZ.net
From: bird AT neilfitzgeraldphoto.co.nz
Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:22:32 -0500
This BIRDING-NZ Yahoo Group has become a fantastic resource for New  
Zealand birders over the past few years. I’ve certainly got a lot from  
it and I’m sure we all appreciate the huge amount of time and effort  
Brent has put into BIRDING-NZ for almost a decade now. Things change  
though, and a more modern platform which has been widely adopted  
elsewhere is online ‘bulletin boards’ or ‘forums’.

Last month I started to build a new website, including a discussion  
forum which will hopefully help the birding community in New Zealand.  
It is great to have Brent on board helping with the new site. With his  
dedication and knowledge I think we can continue to develop birding in  
NZ.

While there tend to be some downsides to any change, I think (hope)  
the benefits will out way them for the majority. We don’t want to  
divide and potentially loose valuable information and sightings, so we  
ask that all BIRDING-NZers give it a chance, go to www.BirdingNZ.net,  
sign up and start posting.  BIRDING-NZ will not altogether cease to  
exist, although we will carefully review usage at some stage in the  
future.



A few of the features of BirdingNZ.net:

·         Include images in your posts
·         Easy following of ‘threaded’ topics
·         Easily search the forums
·         Customizable settings via the ‘User Control Panel’
·         Send private messages to other users
·         Email addresses are not publicly available thereby reducing  
potential for viruses or improper use

Websites are like gardens, good ones are never finished. We have a few  
things in mind for the future, and your feedback is always appreciated.

Thanks also to the folks who took the time to test it out and give  
helpful feedback.



Neil.
Subject: RE: Kaikoura Pelagic- 25-26 July
From: "Alex Thompson" <alex AT dolphin.co.nz>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:33:13 +1200
Hi All


As Peter mentioned, there will be a second full-day pelagic tour in Kaikoura on 
the 25th of July. 


Hopefully all the southerly storms will have blown up some rare species from 
the south. 


Drop me a line if anyone wants to know more.

Cheers

Alex

-----Original Message-----
From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf 
Of Peter Langlands 

Sent: Monday, 22 June 2009 4:01 p.m.
To: birding-nz AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Kaikoura Pelagic- 25-26 July

Ocean wings is taking bookings for a full day Pelagic on 25 July (26 as a back 
-up). Places are likely to move. For trip deatils or to make a booking 
contact.Helene SimpsonReservations ManagerEncounter Kaikoura96 
EsplanadeKaikoura 730003 319 6777, 0800 733 365info AT encounterkaikoura.co.nz 

Peter Langlands Outdoor/ environmental writing and photography B.Sc (Zoology)  
Diploma of Science (Aquatic Ecology)   H: 64 3 338 5373 M: 0274 501 916 E: 
langlands AT xtra.co.nz   P.O.Box 2819 Christchurch Mail Centre New Zealand 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent StephensonYahoo! Groups Links
Subject: Bitterns- Waikato- Lake Taharoa and surroundings- a bittern hotspot ?
From: "Peter Langlands" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:52:41 -0000
Hello all - I am compiling a national database of bittern sightings for DOC. 
Still some more gaps. 


 Moynihan reports ( in Moynihan, K.T. 1986. Wildlife and sites of special 
wildlife interest in the Western Waikato Region. Fauna Survey Report Number No 
41. NZ Wildlife Service. Department of Internal Affairs. July 1986.) Lake 
Taharoa (in the vicinity of- including Lake Hari Hari ) as being one of two 
significant wetlands in the Western Waikato Region for bittern. I do not have 
any bittern records at this site since Moynihan's report which was written 
almost 30 years ago. Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on this site 
and the current status of its' bittern population, and if any monitoring is 
taking place ? 


 

Kind regards

Peter Langlands
Subject: Bitterns- Waikato- Lake Taharoa and surroundings- a bittern hotspot ?
From: "Peter Langlands" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:52:44 -0000
Hello all - I am compiling a national database of bittern sightings for DOC. 
Still some more gaps. 


 Moynihan reports ( in Moynihan, K.T. 1986. Wildlife and sites of special 
wildlife interest in the Western Waikato Region. Fauna Survey Report Number No 
41. NZ Wildlife Service. Department of Internal Affairs. July 1986.) Lake 
Taharoa (in the vicinity of- including Lake Hari Hari ) as being one of two 
significant wetlands in the Western Waikato Region for bittern. I do not have 
any bittern records at this site since Moynihan's report which was written 
almost 30 years ago. Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on this site 
and the current status of its' bittern population, and if any monitoring is 
taking place ? 


 

Kind regards

Peter Langlands
Subject: Re: Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara
From: "pghfrost" <pghfrost AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:26:44 -0000
Hi everyone,

We have had some of these marked BTGs on the Whanganui R estuary over the past 
summer, including AMM which Tony and others saw at Miranda. The details are: 

08/11/08 2 white-flagged birds (right tibia), both males, among 17 birds but 
could not read the letters/numbers 

19/12/08 4 white-flagged birds (right tibia)--AJB, AJC, AJD, and AMM. According 
to an email from Adrian Reigen on 20/12 "All were banded and flagged as adults 
at Foxton on 31.10.08" (but that does not gel with the observation of AMM at 
Miranda on 25.10.08 (see Tony's email to this group). (Incidentally, I 
originally (mis)read AJD as AJO, but AJO was not a combination used; I 
subsequently confirmed it as AJD and Paul Gibson later photographed it--see 
below). All these birds were males. 

22/12/08 3 white-flagged birds (right tibia: AJB, AJD, and AMM)and one bird 
with a metal ring on left tibia only, among 23 birds on estuary. 

25/12/08 At least two white-flagged birds (right tibia; could not read the 
letters/numbers) among 28 birds overall. 

29/12/08 3 white-flagged birds (AJC, AJD, and possibly AMJ) among 28 birds 
overall. 

09/01/09 no flagged birds seen among 25 birds overall
18/01/09 2 white-flagged birds seen among 20 birds overall but letters/numbers 
could not be read 

21/01/09 Paul Gibson photographed male AJD and a white-flagged female (left 
tibia; flag unmarked and discoloured; metal ring on left tibia). AJD was in 
breeding plumage. The white-flagged female is thought to be the same bird that 
had been recorded on the estuary in nine times in late 2006 (17/11/06-27/12/06) 
and twice in late 2007 (23-25 Nov). In discussion with Phil Battley, it seems 
to have been a bird banded in Auckland a couple of years earlier, when the 
flags were being put on the RIGHT tibia (i.e. flag put on the wrong leg). 

22/02/09 4 white-flagged birds (right tibia: AJB, AJC, AJD, and AMM) and the 
white-flagged female (left tibia)seen among 26 birds overall. AJB, AJC, AJD and 
AMM all moulting into breeding plumage. 

27/02/09 Only marked bird seen was the white-flagged female (left tibia); 22 
godwits overall. 

08/03/09 One white flagged male (right tibia; letters/numbers not read) among 
10 godwits see. 

10/03/09 11 godwits counted; no marked birds seen.

Note that not all the flagged birds marked at Foxton were juveniles. The four 
marked birds that we had on and off during the 2008/2009 summer were adult 
males and moulted into breeding plumage in Feb 2009 before moving off at the 
end of February/beginning of March. 


All the best,

Peter Frost 

--- In BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com, "Battley, Phil"  wrote:
>
> Some fact checking confirms that AMU was a juvenile godwit banded at the 
Manawatu Estuary on 30 October last year. We had a big lot of juveniles at the 
time and put alpha flags on about 30 of them. Virtually ALL of them left the 
estuary through the summer and should now be wandering around NZ. Tony Habraken 
has listed some interesting sightings below. This was a fantastic catch in 
terms of getting juveniles, which typically are much fewer and far 
between(er?). We should see a lot of these birds over the next 2-3 years, 
year-round. 

> 
> Cheers, Phil
> 
> ___________________________
> Dr Phil Battley
> Ecology Group
> Massey University
> Private Bag 11-222
> Palmerston North
> New Zealand
> Phone 64 6 356 9099 ext 2605
> Fax 64 6 350 5623
> p.battley AT ...
> From: Tony Habraken [mailto:aahabraken AT ...]
> Sent: Sunday, 28 June 2009 10:10 p.m.
> To: David
> Cc: Battley, Phil
> Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara
> 
> David
> 
> Though I haven't seen that bird yet, I can tell you it was banded at Foxton 
last October, not certain of age but a number of them were juveniles. 

> Phil might be able to confirm full details of this bird AMU.
> 
> Other records of that Foxton catch I'm aware of are :-
> ANL moved to Blueskin Bay, Southland (Rob Schuckard) on 13.1.09
> AMS at Waller Island, Sth Kaipara Head on 10.1.09 (A.Habraken., D.Wilson.) 
not sure of it's age though. 

> AJT at Waller Island, Sth Kaipara Head on 15.11.08 (A.H.) and 8.2.09 (A.H., 
D.W., G.Pulham, G.King) 

> AMM at Miranda 25.10.08 (A.H.) and 11.1.09  (A.H., D.Lawrie, K.Woodley)
> 
> This group are certainly adding to our knowledge of BTG's very quickly as 
they have dispersed far and wide since their arrival. 

> 
> Tony
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Shane McPherson
> To: Birding New Zealand
> Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:53 PM
> Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hi all
> 
> Awesome weather for the wader census today!
> 
> We covered the eastern bays and estuaries of the Pouto Peninsular.
> While at Kellys Bay noticed a godwit with a white flag on its Right leg.
> Black letters AMU.
> 
> Any ideas where and when it was banded?
> 
> Shane McPherson
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
Subject: Re: Northland Riflemen
From: "detlefdavies" <detlefdavies AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:11:59 -0000
Hi Simon,

This dot is apparently at the northern end of Waipoua Forest, we've heard 
rumours that Riflemen are there & Anthea Goodwin may know more, we will ask 
her. 


Cheers,
Detlef

--- In BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com, Simon Fordham  wrote:
>
> In the OSNZ Atlas, there are 2 places where riflemen were recorded in
> Northland.
> 
>  
> 
> One is the known Warawara population but there is also a red dot south of
> the Hokianga Harbour and north of Waipoua Forest.
> 
>  
> 
> Can anyone shed any light as to the location and size of this population?
> 
>  
> 
> Also, I have heard of riflemen being seen in Waipoua Forest. Can anyone shed
> any light on any sightings here?
> 
>  
> 
> Regards
> 
>  
> 
> Simon
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
Subject: RE: Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara
From: "Battley, Phil" <P.Battley AT massey.ac.nz>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:50:49 +1200
Some fact checking confirms that AMU was a juvenile godwit banded at the 
Manawatu Estuary on 30 October last year. We had a big lot of juveniles at the 
time and put alpha flags on about 30 of them. Virtually ALL of them left the 
estuary through the summer and should now be wandering around NZ. Tony Habraken 
has listed some interesting sightings below. This was a fantastic catch in 
terms of getting juveniles, which typically are much fewer and far 
between(er?). We should see a lot of these birds over the next 2-3 years, 
year-round. 


Cheers, Phil

___________________________
Dr Phil Battley
Ecology Group
Massey University
Private Bag 11-222
Palmerston North
New Zealand
Phone 64 6 356 9099 ext 2605
Fax 64 6 350 5623
p.battley AT massey.ac.nz
From: Tony Habraken [mailto:aahabraken AT gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, 28 June 2009 10:10 p.m.
To: David
Cc: Battley, Phil
Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara

David

Though I haven't seen that bird yet, I can tell you it was banded at Foxton 
last October, not certain of age but a number of them were juveniles. 

Phil might be able to confirm full details of this bird AMU.

Other records of that Foxton catch I'm aware of are :-
ANL moved to Blueskin Bay, Southland (Rob Schuckard) on 13.1.09
AMS at Waller Island, Sth Kaipara Head on 10.1.09 (A.Habraken., D.Wilson.) not 
sure of it's age though. 

AJT at Waller Island, Sth Kaipara Head on 15.11.08 (A.H.) and 8.2.09 (A.H., 
D.W., G.Pulham, G.King) 

AMM at Miranda 25.10.08 (A.H.) and 11.1.09  (A.H., D.Lawrie, K.Woodley)

This group are certainly adding to our knowledge of BTG's very quickly as they 
have dispersed far and wide since their arrival. 


Tony

----- Original Message -----
From: Shane McPherson
To: Birding New Zealand
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:53 PM
Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara





Hi all

Awesome weather for the wader census today!

We covered the eastern bays and estuaries of the Pouto Peninsular.
While at Kellys Bay noticed a godwit with a white flag on its Right leg.
Black letters AMU.

Any ideas where and when it was banded?

Shane McPherson

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Kaka In Cornwall Park 26th June
From: "Kevin Barker" <olgakevin AT clear.net.nz>
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:42:19 -0000
Hi
On Friday evening two Kaka were heard and seen in Puriri Trees above the kauri 
Grove about 2/3rd's up to Summit. It was just before Dusk so I assume they 
would soon be roosting for the night. It is possible there were more birds as 
they made a lot of noise. I sighted two bouncing around in the canopy of a huge 
Puriri feeding I presume. 


I revisited Saturday late afternoon and circumnavigated the peak, with no 
evidence the birds were still around the summit or below. 


They certainly let you know when they are around. I first heard them upon 
entering the park for a walk when I was perhaps 2 km away. Walking up in the 
direction of the noisy creatures. 


Of interest and humourous to observe yesterday was a white faced heron using a 
stock feeding trough to wash a huge worm which was obviously a bit muddy for 
the bird. 


Kevin Barker
Subject: RE: Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara
From: "Battley, Phil" <P.Battley AT massey.ac.nz>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:39:41 +1200
Adrian Riegen will confirm when he is back from a holiday in Alaska, but this 
is highly likely a bird from the Firth of Thames. 


Cheers, Phil
________________________________
From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Shane McPherson [shane.mcpherson AT gmail.com] 

Sent: Saturday, 27 June 2009 3:53 p.m.
To: Birding New Zealand
Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara




Hi all

Awesome weather for the wader census today!

We covered the eastern bays and estuaries of the Pouto Peninsular.
While at Kellys Bay noticed a godwit with a white flag on its Right leg.
Black letters AMU.

Any ideas where and when it was banded?

Shane McPherson

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara
From: Jan Walker <shesagreen AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:58:30 +1200
We had to cancel ours coz of thick fog.
But there are 270 Godwit at Avon Heathcote, only one with a flag, O  rt leg.
Trying again tmrw at ellesmere, phone me if you want to come 322 7187.
Thanks,
Jan


On Sat, Jun 27, 2009 at 3:53 PM, Shane McPherson
wrote:

>
>
> Hi all
>
> Awesome weather for the wader census today!
>
> We covered the eastern bays and estuaries of the Pouto Peninsular.
> While at Kellys Bay noticed a godwit with a white flag on its Right leg.
> Black letters AMU.
>
> Any ideas where and when it was banded?
>
> Shane McPherson
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> 
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Niue birds
From: "Lloyd Esler" <esler AT southnet.co.nz>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:36:28 +1200
Anyone been to Niue and looked at the birds?  I'd like to talk.
Thanks
Lloyd Esler

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Flagged Godwit on the Kaipara
From: Shane McPherson <shane.mcpherson AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:53:03 +1200
Hi all

Awesome weather for the wader census today!

We covered the eastern bays and estuaries of the Pouto Peninsular.
While at Kellys Bay noticed a godwit with a white flag on its Right leg.
Black letters AMU.

Any ideas where and when it was banded?

Shane McPherson


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Northland Riflemen
From: Simon Fordham <simonf AT clear.net.nz>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:25:16 +1200
In the OSNZ Atlas, there are 2 places where riflemen were recorded in
Northland.

 

One is the known Warawara population but there is also a red dot south of
the Hokianga Harbour and north of Waipoua Forest.

 

Can anyone shed any light as to the location and size of this population?

 

Also, I have heard of riflemen being seen in Waipoua Forest. Can anyone shed
any light on any sightings here?

 

Regards

 

Simon



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Birdcall Recordist Honoured
From: "Kiwi Wildlife " <kwtl AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:39:11 +1200
Hi all,
 
Some of you may heard the item on Morning Report this morning - with Johnny
Kendrick - complemented by his superb recording of kokako.
 
 
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/20090626 and
scroll down to 8.50AM 
 
 
At 87 years still going strong. 
 
 
Happy biridng
 
Chris
 
Chris Gaskin



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Lake Hood, Canterbury
From: "Kathy & Erik" <forsythkd AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:32:25 +1200
Hi all
A short visit to the lake at lunchtime yielded
Grey Teal-140, a high count for here

Australian Coot- an immature bird and a new record for the lake.

White-faced Heron- 40m up in a tree and only my second sighting here of this
species.
NZ Pipit -3
Best wishes
Erik Forsyth


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Bitterns in Australia- rapid decline
From: "Peter Langlands" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:29:19 -0000
Hi all- just to put it into perspective how important our bittern population is 
check out the following RAOU link. 

Kind regards
Peter

www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/bittern-survey.html
Subject: Bitterns- islands on the lower Waikato River
From: "Peter Langlands" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:18:25 -0000
Hi all- Thanks for all the bittern records to date. Looking at my topo maps the 
islands on the lower Waikato look like a potential stronghold for bittern. Does 
anyone have any records from there ? 

Thanks to everyone who responsed to my request for the position of McLeans 
Lake- on the Kaipara. 

Cheers
Peter
Subject: Kaikoura Pelagic- 25-26 July
From: Peter Langlands <langlands AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:01:28 -0700 (PDT)
Ocean wings is taking bookings for a full day Pelagic on 25 July (26 as a back 
-up). Places are likely to move. For trip deatils or to make a booking 
contact.Helene SimpsonReservations ManagerEncounter Kaikoura96 
EsplanadeKaikoura 730003 319 6777, 0800 733 365info AT encounterkaikoura.co.nz 

Peter Langlands Outdoor/ environmental writing and photography B.Sc (Zoology)  
Diploma of Science (Aquatic Ecology)   H: 64 3 338 5373 M: 0274 501 916 E: 
langlands AT xtra.co.nz   P.O.Box 2819 Christchurch Mail Centre New Zealand 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Bittern blog
From: "Peter Langlands" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:21:33 -0000
Hi all, 
Thanks to everyone in the Birding-NZ community for your sightings of bittern. I 
have set up a blog site. The site has a link that highlights the dire situation 
that bitterns are in over the (big) ditch, in Australia. Our bitterns are 
internationally very valuable. I now have over 1700 records spanning the last 
50 years. With your help I want to reach 2000 ! Analysis of the data, for DOC, 
will begin in July- but keep those sightings rolling in. 


http://bittern-tracker.blogspot.com


Kind rgds
Peter
planglands AT doc.govt.nz

/
Subject: Holyfod River, Lake Ellesmere
From: "Kathy & Erik" <forsythkd AT gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:13:56 +1200
Hi all

A visit to the Holyford River where it joins Lake Ellesmere was fairly birdy
despite the heavy drizzle on Saturday Morning. Sightings included:

Mute Swan – a pair amongst 50+ Black Swan.

Yellowhammer –  about 150 feeding in a narrow stubble field on the western
side the access road.

Skylark – 250+ feeding in the same field.

NZ Pipit- a singleton calling as it flew over.
At Lakeside there were 9 Great Crested Grebe close to the shore.
Best wishes
Erik Forsyth


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

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Subject: RE: Possible Kestrel - Auckland
From: Iain Johnson <juiceblue AT hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:15:07 +0000
Hi,

 

Drove along the NW highway this morning. No sign of the posible kestrel 
although I did see the back end of a (probable) harrier quartering an area of 
mangrove on the northern side of the highway between the lincoln road exit and 
the huruhuru road over bridge. 


 

Cheers e

Follow Iain & Jo down under http://e2productions.blogspot.com/
 
Contact Iain & Jo via Skype  AT  jodarke








 


To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com
From: suzi AT dialogue.co.nz
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:54:19 +1200
Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak







Hi there,

An update on the NZ Falcon on the Auckland NW Motorway ... just before Jonathan 
Pote escaped to the UK he emailed me back some better location details and 
added that the "Falcon" was stationary, and what sounded like hovering in the 
wind. 


He said, "It seemed to be hunting as opposed to in transit, at about 50 feet 
and barely moving - it did not flap for the few seconds I was watching it, but 
it was a only quick sighting from a car." 


That raised alarm bells for me as I didn't think NZ Falcons did much hovering, 
and Noel Hyde (from Wingspan) has agreed and said, "Kestrels are sometimes 
called "Windhovers" because that is one of their main methods of hunting. They 
face into the wind at about 50 feet + and hover, sometimes with flapping wings, 
sometimes not, as they work to hold their position over a patch of ground below 
searching for prey." 


This sounds much closer to what Jon described, so keep an eye out for a small 
as yet unidentified raptor seen "by the stream about 1km south of the Royal 
Rd/NW Motorway junction". 


If you're going in during the morning rush--hour the traffic will probably be 
slow enough for a long scrutiny of the area ! (Ay Marijke !?) 


Best regards,
Suzi

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]









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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: dead whale
From: "Chris Petyt" <cpetyt AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:53:12 +1200
Hi Folks,
On 19th June went down to see the remains of the Blue Whale on the coast south 
of Westhaven Inlet, Golden Bay. A bit late, but I first heard about it the 
morning I was setting off for Orewa etc. 

Not a lot left to see but the birds attracted to it were interesting. As well 
as loads of gulls there was a party of 25 Giant Petrels and 31 Cape Pigeons in 
a small bay only 10-20 metres offshore, with some Cape Pigeons almost on he 
beach at times. Every so often they'd all mill together obviously feeding on 
small shoaling fish. All the Giant Petrels seemed to be juvenile Northern. 

Cheers,
Chris

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: No sign of Chestnut? Teal
From: Sav Saville <sav AT wrybill-tours.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:19:59 +1200
Hi all,

 

Spent some time at Otaki sewage ponds this morning and the reported possible
Chestnut Teal was not there. 41 Grey Teal were on the main lagoons or on the
small pond as described by Colin. The guys at the works were very
accommodating and allowed access past the "No Trespassing " signs.

 

The bird may well still be around, so worth keeping a look out for.

 

Also there today were 37 Dabchicks and 4 Black-fronted Dots.

 

Sav Saville

Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ

"Great birds, real birders"

 

24 Puketiro Drive

Feilding 4702

New Zealand

+64 6 323 1441

sav AT wrybill-tours.com

www.wrybill-tours.com

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: No sign of Chestnut? Teal
From: Sav Saville <sav AT wrybill-tours.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:04:46 +1200
Hi all,

 

Spent some time at Otaki sewage ponds this morning and the reported possible
Chestnut Teal was not there. 41 Grey Teal were on the main lagoons or on the
small pond as described by Colin. The guys at the works were very
accommodating and allowed access past the "No Trespassing " signs.

 

The bird may well still be around, so worth keeping a look out for.

 

Also there today were 37 Dabchicks and 4 Black-fronted Dots.

 

Sav Saville

Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ

"Great birds, real birders"

 

24 Puketiro Drive

Feilding 4702

New Zealand

+64 6 323 1441

sav AT wrybill-tours.com

www.wrybill-tours.com

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: No sign of Chestnut? Teal
From: Sav Saville <sav AT wrybill-tours.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:19:15 +1200
Hi all,

 

Spent some time at Otaki sewage ponds this morning and the reported possible
Chestnut Teal was not there. 41 Grey Teal were on the main lagoons or on the
small pond as described by Colin. The guys at the works were very
accommodating and allowed access past the "No Trespassing " signs.

 

The bird may well still be around, so worth keeping a look out for.

 

Also there today were 37 Dabchicks and 4 Black-fronted Dots.

 

Sav Saville

Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ

"Great birds, real birders"

 

24 Puketiro Drive

Feilding 4702

New Zealand

+64 6 323 1441

sav AT wrybill-tours.com

www.wrybill-tours.com

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: White yellowhammer.
From: "rplatham" <rplatham AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:57:30 +1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
Hello everyone.Something a little different - for me anyway.On June 2nd an
all white 
bird, in every respect but colour, just like a yellowhammer flew over me
when I was out walking in the dunes between Mt Maunganui and Papamoa.Since
then I have found it feeding,
in a patch of rank weeds,among normal yellowhammers,goldfinches and house
sparrows,on three consecutive days.It is totally white except for feet,
bill and eyes.The bill and feet are an orange brown but so far I have not
been able to
determine the eye colour.And no - for you doubters out there - it is not an
escapee
canary or budgie.Hopefully there will be a photo in due course.Cheers.Paddy. 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Albatross Beachwrecks
From: Shane McPherson <shane.mcpherson AT gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:35:31 +1200
Hi

A good haul for the beach patrol today. Bring on those wild westerlies.

3 Northern Giant Petrels (1ad and 2 juv -one very fresh)
1 White capped Albatross
*1 Grey headed Albatross (juvenile decayed)*
1 Subantarctic Black browed Albatross
1 Black back Gull
1 Gannet


Shane McPherson
Pouto, Northland


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Location of McLean's Farm Lake
From: "Peter Langlands" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:33:49 -0000
Hi all- just trying to place this location where bittern were sighted in 1986. 
Thanks 

Peter
Subject: Re: Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak
From: "Suzi Phillips" <suzi AT dialogue.co.nz>
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:32:44 +1200
Hi Sav,

You could be right, but .... Jon is a keen birder from the UK living in NZ for 
a number of years, and I'm confident he has plenty of experience with raptors 
to know a harrier from a falcon. 


I haven't had the chance to ask him if it could have been a kestrel, or even to 
cross-check his sighting, but I'll let you know when I do. 


Best regards,
Suzi

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: sav AT wrybill-tours.com 
  To: David Riddell & Annette Taylor 
  Cc: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 12:20 PM
  Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak





  Hi all,
  A couple of points on the "kestrel" sighting.

  It is good to get sightings of potential rarities into circulation, so 
  thanks to the observer and to Suzi for doing just that.

  Brief sightings of anything from a moving car are notoriously 
  unreliable, especially so when the observer has no experience of the 
  supposed species. (Brolga v White-faced Heron recently?)

  Whatever this bird was, it clearly wasnt a NZ Falcon - since they just 
  do not hover. To my (cynical?) mind the chances are that it was a 
  harrier and I firmly believe that most poorly documented reports of 
  Aust Kestrel in NZ are actually pale, male harriers. Several Manawatu 
  reports in recent years (mostly from non-birders) look to be harriers 
  on closer inspection. eg "it was tiny, much smaller than a harrier" or 
  "it was white underneath, just like a Kestrel in my bird book".

  Keep looking though, because sometimes it turns out to be the 
  mega-rarity!! (Straw-necked Ibis!?)

  Cheers,

  Sav Saville
  Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
  www.wrybill-tours.com

  Quoting David Riddell & Annette Taylor :

  > Why is this not a harrier? Did the observer give any more details? A
  > bird of prey which isn't flapping its wings doesn't sound like a
  > falcon. And from the kestrels I've seen in Australia and Europe it
  > would be hard to confuse one with a NZ falcon - they're tiny little
  > things with long, skinny wings.
  >
  > David
  >
  >
  > Suzi Phillips wrote:
  >>
  >>
  >> Hi there,
  >>
  >> An update on the NZ Falcon on the Auckland NW Motorway ... just before
  >> Jonathan Pote escaped to the UK he emailed me back some better
  >> location details and added that the "Falcon" was stationary, and what
  >> sounded like hovering in the wind.
  >>
  >> He said, "It seemed to be hunting as opposed to in transit, at about
  >> 50 feet and barely moving - it did not flap for the few seconds I was
  >> watching it, but it was a only quick sighting from a car."
  >>
  >> That raised alarm bells for me as I didn't think NZ Falcons did much
  >> hovering, and Noel Hyde (from Wingspan) has agreed and said, "Kestrels
  >> are sometimes called "Windhovers" because that is one of their main
  >> methods of hunting. They face into the wind at about 50 feet + and
  >> hover, sometimes with flapping wings, sometimes not, as they work to
  >> hold their position over a patch of ground below searching for prey."
  >>
  >> This sounds much closer to what Jon described, so keep an eye out for
  >> a small as yet unidentified raptor seen "by the stream about 1km south
  >> of the Royal Rd/NW Motorway junction".
  >>
  >> If you're going in during the morning rush--hour the traffic will
  >> probably be slow enough for a long scrutiny of the area ! (Ay Marijke !?)
  >>
  >> Best regards,
  >> Suzi
  >>
  >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  >>
  >>
  >
  >



  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak
From: "Kiwi Wildlife " <kwtl AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:52:29 +1200
Hi Sav, all
 
Did you see the photo of a kestrel in the latest issue of Wingspan journal
(Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust) - taken May 2008 in the Auroa-Okaiawa
district of South Taranaki? According to the accompanying article - other
kestrel sightings during last year included one at Pokaka (near National
Park). Were these reported through Birding-NZ? 
 
Re. falcons hovering. They do, though not often . For example, I've seen
this on the Crown Range road - above Kawerau gorge - two birds hanging,
hovering in the strong updraft blowing up the side of a ridge. And another
time up amongst the tors near Alexander. This one came drifting down the
wide ridge we were walking up then hovered over our heads before carrying on
down the ridgeline. 
 
However, a falcon over the NW Motorway seems unlikely. Harrier could be, but
then a kestrel is very much a possibility.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 
 
Chris Gaskin
 

-----Original Message-----
From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of sav AT wrybill-tours.com
Sent: Thursday, 18 June 2009 12:20 p.m.
To: David Riddell & Annette Taylor
Cc: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak





Hi all,
A couple of points on the "kestrel" sighting.

It is good to get sightings of potential rarities into circulation, so 
thanks to the observer and to Suzi for doing just that.

Brief sightings of anything from a moving car are notoriously 
unreliable, especially so when the observer has no experience of the 
supposed species. (Brolga v White-faced Heron recently?)

Whatever this bird was, it clearly wasnt a NZ Falcon - since they just 
do not hover. To my (cynical?) mind the chances are that it was a 
harrier and I firmly believe that most poorly documented reports of 
Aust Kestrel in NZ are actually pale, male harriers. Several Manawatu 
reports in recent years (mostly from non-birders) look to be harriers 
on closer inspection. eg "it was tiny, much smaller than a harrier" or 
"it was white underneath, just like a Kestrel in my bird book".

Keep looking though, because sometimes it turns out to be the 
mega-rarity!! (Straw-necked Ibis!?)

Cheers,

Sav Saville
Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
www.wrybill-tours.com

Quoting David Riddell & Annette Taylor  co.nz>:

> Why is this not a harrier? Did the observer give any more details? A
> bird of prey which isn't flapping its wings doesn't sound like a
> falcon. And from the kestrels I've seen in Australia and Europe it
> would be hard to confuse one with a NZ falcon - they're tiny little
> things with long, skinny wings.
>
> David
>
>
> Suzi Phillips wrote:
>>
>>
>> Hi there,
>>
>> An update on the NZ Falcon on the Auckland NW Motorway ... just before
>> Jonathan Pote escaped to the UK he emailed me back some better
>> location details and added that the "Falcon" was stationary, and what
>> sounded like hovering in the wind.
>>
>> He said, "It seemed to be hunting as opposed to in transit, at about
>> 50 feet and barely moving - it did not flap for the few seconds I was
>> watching it, but it was a only quick sighting from a car."
>>
>> That raised alarm bells for me as I didn't think NZ Falcons did much
>> hovering, and Noel Hyde (from Wingspan) has agreed and said, "Kestrels
>> are sometimes called "Windhovers" because that is one of their main
>> methods of hunting. They face into the wind at about 50 feet + and
>> hover, sometimes with flapping wings, sometimes not, as they work to
>> hold their position over a patch of ground below searching for prey."
>>
>> This sounds much closer to what Jon described, so keep an eye out for
>> a small as yet unidentified raptor seen "by the stream about 1km south
>> of the Royal Rd/NW Motorway junction".
>>
>> If you're going in during the morning rush--hour the traffic will
>> probably be slow enough for a long scrutiny of the area ! (Ay Marijke !?)
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Suzi
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>
>







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak
From: sav AT wrybill-tours.com
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:20:11 +1200
Hi all,
A couple of points on the "kestrel" sighting.

It is good to get sightings of potential rarities into circulation, so  
thanks to the observer and to Suzi for doing just that.

Brief sightings of anything from a moving car are notoriously  
unreliable, especially so when the observer has no experience of the  
supposed species. (Brolga v White-faced Heron recently?)

Whatever this bird was, it clearly wasnt a NZ Falcon - since they just  
do not hover. To my (cynical?) mind the chances are that it was a  
harrier and I firmly believe that most poorly documented reports of  
Aust Kestrel in NZ are actually pale, male harriers. Several Manawatu  
reports in recent years (mostly from non-birders) look to be harriers  
on closer inspection. eg "it was tiny, much smaller than a harrier" or  
"it was white underneath, just like a Kestrel in my bird book".

Keep looking though, because sometimes it turns out to be the  
mega-rarity!! (Straw-necked Ibis!?)

Cheers,

Sav Saville
Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
www.wrybill-tours.com

Quoting David Riddell & Annette Taylor :

> Why is this not a harrier?  Did the observer give any more details?  A
> bird of prey which isn't flapping its wings doesn't sound like a
> falcon.  And from the kestrels I've seen in Australia and Europe it
> would be hard to confuse one with a NZ falcon - they're tiny little
> things with long, skinny wings.
>
> David
>
>
> Suzi Phillips wrote:
>>
>>
>> Hi there,
>>
>> An update on the NZ Falcon on the Auckland NW Motorway ... just before
>> Jonathan Pote escaped to the UK he emailed me back some better
>> location details and added that the "Falcon" was stationary, and what
>> sounded like hovering in the wind.
>>
>> He said, "It seemed to be hunting as opposed to in transit, at about
>> 50 feet and barely moving - it did not flap for the few seconds I was
>> watching it, but it was a only quick sighting from a car."
>>
>> That raised alarm bells for me as I didn't think NZ Falcons did much
>> hovering, and Noel Hyde (from Wingspan) has agreed and said, "Kestrels
>> are sometimes called "Windhovers" because that is one of their main
>> methods of hunting. They face into the wind at about 50 feet + and
>> hover, sometimes with flapping wings, sometimes not, as they work to
>> hold their position over a patch of ground below searching for prey."
>>
>> This sounds much closer to what Jon described, so keep an eye out for
>> a small as yet unidentified raptor seen "by the stream about 1km south
>> of the Royal Rd/NW Motorway junction".
>>
>> If you're going in during the morning rush--hour the traffic will
>> probably be slow enough for a long scrutiny of the area ! (Ay Marijke !?)
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Suzi
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>
>
Subject: Re: Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak
From: David Riddell & Annette Taylor <Number8 AT ihug.co.nz>
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:39:27 +1200
Why is this not a harrier?  Did the observer give any more details?  A 
bird of prey which isn't flapping its wings doesn't sound like a 
falcon.  And from the kestrels I've seen in Australia and Europe it 
would be hard to confuse one with a NZ falcon - they're tiny little 
things with long, skinny wings.

David


Suzi Phillips wrote:
>
>
> Hi there,
>
> An update on the NZ Falcon on the Auckland NW Motorway ... just before 
> Jonathan Pote escaped to the UK he emailed me back some better 
> location details and added that the "Falcon" was stationary, and what 
> sounded like hovering in the wind.
>
> He said, "It seemed to be hunting as opposed to in transit, at about 
> 50 feet and barely moving - it did not flap for the few seconds I was 
> watching it, but it was a only quick sighting from a car."
>
> That raised alarm bells for me as I didn't think NZ Falcons did much 
> hovering, and Noel Hyde (from Wingspan) has agreed and said, "Kestrels 
> are sometimes called "Windhovers" because that is one of their main 
> methods of hunting. They face into the wind at about 50 feet + and 
> hover, sometimes with flapping wings, sometimes not, as they work to 
> hold their position over a patch of ground below searching for prey."
>
> This sounds much closer to what Jon described, so keep an eye out for 
> a small as yet unidentified raptor seen "by the stream about 1km south 
> of the Royal Rd/NW Motorway junction".
>
> If you're going in during the morning rush--hour the traffic will 
> probably be slow enough for a long scrutiny of the area ! (Ay Marijke !?)
>
> Best regards,
> Suzi
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
Subject: Lake Hood, Ashburton, Canterbury
From: "Kathy & Erik" <forsythkd AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:02:30 +1200
Hi all

I spent my lunch hour today at Lake Hood, Ashburton.  Interesting species
recorded were:

Pukeko – up to 70 birds in surrounding farm fields.

SIPO – a pair foraging on a grassy field, the first sighting of this species
in nearly 3 months.

Black-fronted Dotterel – a high count of 13 birds feeding in a waterlogged
field.

Black-billed Gull – regular flyovers this winter but I have yet to see any
birds roosting around the lake.

NZ Pipit – only 3 birds found after a high count of 9 at the end of May.

Interestingly there was a peak of number of 4 Great Crested Grebes by the
end of May, they have since moved off.

Best wishes

Erik Forsyth


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Subject: Falcon or Kestrel or ? NW Ak
From: "Suzi Phillips" <suzi AT dialogue.co.nz>
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:54:19 +1200
Hi there,

An update on the NZ Falcon on the Auckland NW Motorway ... just before Jonathan 
Pote escaped to the UK he emailed me back some better location details and 
added that the "Falcon" was stationary, and what sounded like hovering in the 
wind. 


He said, "It seemed to be hunting as opposed to in transit, at about 50 feet 
and barely moving - it did not flap for the few seconds I was watching it, but 
it was a only quick sighting from a car." 


That raised alarm bells for me as I didn't think NZ Falcons did much hovering, 
and Noel Hyde (from Wingspan) has agreed and said, "Kestrels are sometimes 
called "Windhovers" because that is one of their main methods of hunting. They 
face into the wind at about 50 feet + and hover, sometimes with flapping wings, 
sometimes not, as they work to hold their position over a patch of ground below 
searching for prey." 


This sounds much closer to what Jon described, so keep an eye out for a small 
as yet unidentified raptor seen "by the stream about 1km south of the Royal 
Rd/NW Motorway junction". 


If you're going in during the morning rush--hour the traffic will probably be 
slow enough for a long scrutiny of the area ! (Ay Marijke !?) 


Best regards,
Suzi

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Galahs at Last!
From: "Stuart Chambers" <as_chambers AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:56:21 +1200
Congratulations Terry - but it would have been easier and quicker and maybe 
less expensive to have popped across the Tasman on a "Grabaseat". Bribie Island 
north of Brisbane has a large resident population. However another NZ tick I 
expect. And we were all interested in the outcome. 


Regards

Stuart Chambers
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: optikcop 
  To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:26 PM
  Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Galahs at Last!





 Mangatawhiri today 1200hrs: Pines behind former cafe - a dozen large pink 
items present. Aparrently NOT Warehouse carrier bags, but GALAHS! Thanks VERY 
much to all who sent info messages. Too many to acknowledge individually. Four 
years of patience and several dozen visits finally paid off. Nice one. 

  Very happy chappie
  Terry



  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Galahs at Last!
From: "optikcop" <optikcop AT windowslive.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:26:11 -0000
Mangatawhiri today 1200hrs: Pines behind former cafe - a dozen large pink items 
present. Aparrently NOT Warehouse carrier bags, but GALAHS! Thanks VERY much to 
all who sent info messages. Too many to acknowledge individually. Four years of 
patience and several dozen visits finally paid off. Nice one. 

Very happy chappie
Terry
Subject: falcon takes out myna
From: Rosemary Tully <rosemarytully AT clear.net.nz>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:37:06 +1200
Hi, I just heard today of a lady walking her dogs near the Heads Whakatane last 
Friday. A few mynas were fighting in the gutter and suddenly a falcon swooped 
down and took out one of the them. There has been one falcon hanging around 
near the skateboard park by the river taking out starlings as they come to 
roost in the late afternoon. 

cheers Rosemary

'Never frown, even when you are sad, 
Because you never know who is
Falling in love with your smile. ' 
"Every one smiles in the same language"
Rosemary Tully
513A Taneatua Road
RD1 Whakatane
3191 New Zealand
Phone 0064 7 3129475
Website http://www.nzbirds.com/more/rescue.html
 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: Kaka - and falcon
From: Stuart & Jane Nicholson <nicholson AT paradise.net.nz>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:34:37 +1200
We had kaka (1 seen and 2 flying off) perching on our deck in Brooklyn Wgtn
this morning c. 0745. They are frequent flyers in out in front but never
before seen perching here!

 ... and with no food or other enticement! ... any ideas to persuade the
rest of the rest of the family not to start feeding them? Perhaps just offer
to tell them falcon jokes?

:-)

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of David Riddell & Annette Taylor
Sent: Tuesday, 16 June 2009 12:22
To: BIRDING-NZ
Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Kaka - and falcon

I was talking to a guy recently who lives at Karamu, near Mt Pirongia.  
He has a pair of kaka on his place - also had them last winter and I 
think the year before from memory.  Perhaps more interestingly, he also 
had a falcon there about three weeks ago.  It was flying through the 
canopy of his small patch of bush (mostly kanuka) and scaring out birds, 
then swooping back above the trees trying to catch them.  Then a few 
days later he saw another (or quite possibly the same bird) at close 
range perching in a tree beside the northern end of Limeworks Loop Rd, 
one or two km away.  There has been the odd report of falcon from the 
Limeworks Loop Rd area over the years, nice that they're hanging on 
there, since this is close to the northern limit for the species.

David Riddell

Duncan Watson wrote:
>
>
> And I saw two Kaka flying over Holloway Road/Aro St in Aro Valley this
> morning. For those unfamiliar with the area, Holloway Road is a dead
> end street leading to bush (George Denton Park) that backs on to the
> Karori Sanctuary in Wellington, so it isn't too far for the Kaka to
> venture out. I've seen them in this area a number of times morning and
> night as its on my route to/from work. They also seem to hang around in
> the trees on the small hill between Raroa Rd, Norway St and Hadfield
> Tce. Nice to see Kaka in the capital.
> Duncan.
>
> 1b. Re: Kaka in One Tree Hill this evening
> Posted by: "Michael Szabo" millsszabo AT xtra.co.nz 
> 
> Date: Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:04 am ((PDT))
>
> Nice record - there were also seven Kaka flying around and making a 
> racket in trees at the Botanic Gardens in Wellington on Thursday, late 
> afternoon.
>
> Happy birding!
> Michael
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: bahughes
> To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 6:52 PM
> Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Kaka in One Tree Hill this evening
>
> Heard a kaka at One Tree Hill, Auckland, this evening at 5.45pm on our 
> walk. It was in the trees near where the chooks and pigeons hang out 
> at the end of Twin Oak Dive. Very close to us. Three whistles, a 
> cackle and then it flew to the trees by the farmer's cottage near 
> Campbell Rd entrance. Possibly two.
>
> In the past two summers we have enjoyed having tuis more frequently 
> round this part of Onehunga. Last summer we found a young tui that had 
> fallen out of a nest from what we thought was a nest in a neighbours 
> property. We tried to place it in the tree in various containers but 
> it kept jumping out and parents wouldn't come down to feed it. There 
> was no choice but to take the young tui to Silvia Durrant if it was to 
> be fed and survive the domestic pests. Last week all the leaves came 
> off our deciduous back garden tree and there in all its glory was the 
> tui nest just metres form our backdoor. I've spent many hours in the 
> summer wandering round bush areas we have access to trying to find tui 
> nests. There was one right by the back door! Great observers we are! 
> Adding to the story, the wind blew it down this morning, still intact, 
> so I now have an intact tui nest to add to the other collection of 
> nests. Must check with Silvia where that tui was released.
>
> Cheers
> Barbara Hughes and Mick Cleland
>
> 



------------------------------------

BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent StephensonYahoo! Groups Links
Subject: Nesflash for canty birders -poss gull-billed tern at Charlesworth Reserve this afternoon
From: "Crossland, Andrew" <andrew.crossland AT ccc.govt.nz>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:42:29 +1200
Just letting Canty folk know - reported hlaf an hr ago and seen flying
toward bromley ponds

AC

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Subject: North-east Auckland Dotterel protection
From: "Suzi Phillips" <suzi AT dialogue.co.nz>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:12:54 +1200
Volunteers are needed - for anyone in this area interested in helping with this 
dotterel protection group - here are the details. 


Omaha New Zealand Dotterel Protection Group Meeting - call for new members 
Meeting Saturday 25 July - Meeting at the Omaha Community Centre (next to Golf 
Club) at 10.30am 

The ARC, DOC and RDC are calling for more people to get involved with the 
protection of an important population of NZ dotterel at Omaha. 


They are hoping to inspire and motivate volunteers interested in boosting the 
trapping roster numbers, monitoring the birds and their breeding success, 
weeding out the plants that are invading the site and providing cover for 
predators, and helping with fundraising and awareness. 


Come along to this meeting and learn about the internationally important 
breeding and flocking site for shorebirds at north Omaha spit. Hear about the 
birds that play the dating game, breed and raise their young or just roost 
there. Find out how you can help enhance the breeding success of the endangered 
New Zealand dotterel. A site visit will follow your provided lunch and experts 
will be on hand to explain the expanded vision for this community group. 


Contact Sue Cameron to register your interest or find out more, (please let us 
know if you're attending the meeting for catering purposes) 


09 425 7812 or aucklandvolunteer AT doc.govt.nz 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Kaka - and falcon
From: David Riddell & Annette Taylor <Number8 AT ihug.co.nz>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:22:28 +1200
I was talking to a guy recently who lives at Karamu, near Mt Pirongia.  
He has a pair of kaka on his place - also had them last winter and I 
think the year before from memory.  Perhaps more interestingly, he also 
had a falcon there about three weeks ago.  It was flying through the 
canopy of his small patch of bush (mostly kanuka) and scaring out birds, 
then swooping back above the trees trying to catch them.  Then a few 
days later he saw another (or quite possibly the same bird) at close 
range perching in a tree beside the northern end of Limeworks Loop Rd, 
one or two km away.  There has been the odd report of falcon from the 
Limeworks Loop Rd area over the years, nice that they're hanging on 
there, since this is close to the northern limit for the species.

David Riddell

Duncan Watson wrote:
>
>
> And I saw two Kaka flying over Holloway Road/Aro St in Aro Valley this
> morning. For those unfamiliar with the area, Holloway Road is a dead
> end street leading to bush (George Denton Park) that backs on to the
> Karori Sanctuary in Wellington, so it isn't too far for the Kaka to
> venture out. I've seen them in this area a number of times morning and
> night as its on my route to/from work. They also seem to hang around in
> the trees on the small hill between Raroa Rd, Norway St and Hadfield
> Tce. Nice to see Kaka in the capital.
> Duncan.
>
> 1b. Re: Kaka in One Tree Hill this evening
> Posted by: "Michael Szabo" millsszabo AT xtra.co.nz 
> 
> Date: Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:04 am ((PDT))
>
> Nice record - there were also seven Kaka flying around and making a 
> racket in trees at the Botanic Gardens in Wellington on Thursday, late 
> afternoon.
>
> Happy birding!
> Michael
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: bahughes
> To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 6:52 PM
> Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Kaka in One Tree Hill this evening
>
> Heard a kaka at One Tree Hill, Auckland, this evening at 5.45pm on our 
> walk. It was in the trees near where the chooks and pigeons hang out 
> at the end of Twin Oak Dive. Very close to us. Three whistles, a 
> cackle and then it flew to the trees by the farmer's cottage near 
> Campbell Rd entrance. Possibly two.
>
> In the past two summers we have enjoyed having tuis more frequently 
> round this part of Onehunga. Last summer we found a young tui that had 
> fallen out of a nest from what we thought was a nest in a neighbours 
> property. We tried to place it in the tree in various containers but 
> it kept jumping out and parents wouldn't come down to feed it. There 
> was no choice but to take the young tui to Silvia Durrant if it was to 
> be fed and survive the domestic pests. Last week all the leaves came 
> off our deciduous back garden tree and there in all its glory was the 
> tui nest just metres form our backdoor. I've spent many hours in the 
> summer wandering round bush areas we have access to trying to find tui 
> nests. There was one right by the back door! Great observers we are! 
> Adding to the story, the wind blew it down this morning, still intact, 
> so I now have an intact tui nest to add to the other collection of 
> nests. Must check with Silvia where that tui was released.
>
> Cheers
> Barbara Hughes and Mick Cleland
>
>
Subject: Falcon norwest
From: "Suzi Phillips" <suzi AT dialogue.co.nz>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:22:33 +1200
I had a report of a NZ Falcon over the Auckland North-west motorway about 1pm 
today. 


I can't be more specific re location as this (NZ) birder emailed before leaving 
for the UK tonight, but if you use the north-west motorway regularly, this will 
be one to watch out for (preferably from the passenger seat !?). 


Best regards,
Suzi

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Request for bittern sightings from Taieri Oxbows- Scroll Plain- Upper Taieri
From: "bruce896387" <bruce896387 AT yahoo.com.au>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:20:14 -0000
Peter, Suggest you contact Murray Neilson at DOC Dunedin. He's benn knocking 
around in the Upper Taieris since the 1970's so might be able to help. 


Bruce

--- In BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com, "Peter Langlands"  wrote:
>
> Hi all- the giant bittern jigsaw puzzle is coming along well. Just trying to 
fill some gaps now. I have few records from the upper Tairei Oxbows, despite 
records in popular literature of bittern being there. Can any one help with 
sightings ( even historical sightings are significant) . Kind rgds 

> Peter
>
Subject: Re: Auckland OSNZ conference-related bird sightings
From: "bruce896387" <bruce896387 AT yahoo.com.au>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:18:18 -0000
I'd like to add my thanks for an excellent weekend.  
The variety of presentations on the Saturday was wide ranging and varied. The 
organisation flowed well and the food was good. 


It was fun to catch up with the Gwenda Pulhams' visitors to Omaha Spit and see 
good numbers of NZ Dotterels, banded dotterels and Oystercatchers. 


Mel and team thanks again.

Bruce
--- In BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com, "Stuart Chambers"  wrote:
>
> Hullo all
> 
> Yes - I agree with Ian. It was an excellent conference - good company and 
plenty of laughs. It was quite a change from some I have been to in the past - 
all suits and ties and serious faces and wondering whether you should say 
something in case you showed your ignorance. 

> 
> Yes - it was probably how all conferences should be, but I do feel that as a 
group we failed to publicly thank David Lawrie for taking over the chairmanship 
at such short notice, and then chairing the AGM and the after dinner speeches 
in such a light-hearted and enjoyable manner. It is not easy to become a 
chairman, as the previous chairman will attest to, and then to step into the 
role so capably, so we must compliment David on his handling of this task to 
date. We now know that he is something of a bonus and we thank him for his 
efforts to date. 

> 
> This conference also showed a general new-found light-heartedness among the 
realms of the bird-watchers, but in my view this is not all of David's doing. 
It is more than that. It is something to do with the fact that "twitching", or 
rather the quest to enjoy and learn more bird species, has suddenly become 
acceptable among OSNZ members. This desire to learn and enjoy is now evident, 
and could well be the force which is bringing more young people to the 
organisation as was evident at conference. 

> 
> So to David, Mel and Chris many thanks for a good weekend.
> 
> Stuart Chambers
> 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Ian Armitage 
>   To: Jan Walker ; Nick Allen 
>   Cc: BIRDING-NZ 
>   Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 6:02 PM
>   Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Auckland OSNZ conference-related bird sightings
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hi too would like to congratulate Mel and his OSNZ Auckland team for 
arranging a great conference at Orewa; thoroughly enjoyable and great company & 
excellent weather for our visit to Tawharanui Regional Park. It's not often 
that one can enjoy lunch in the early winter sitting on the grass above the 
beach in still sunny weather and see 4 NZ dotterells nearby and be surrounded 
by many fantails moving about over the lawn beside us like big moths and also 
hear bellbirds nearby. 

> 
> I too made a short visit to Miranda on Monday afternoon in still clear 
weather. The observation highlights at the 'hide' were a 1 kotuku, 23 royal 
spoonbills, 9 NZ dotterells, and the wonderful sight of many hundreds of 
wrybills and red knots wheeling into the air when they were spooked by an 
overflying harrier. 

> 
>   Thanks again Mel and your team for a great conference.
> 
>   Cheers.
> 
>   Ian Armitage
> 
>   ________________________________
>   From: Jan Walker 
>   To: Nick Allen 
>   Cc: BIRDING-NZ 
>   Sent: Tuesday, 2 June, 2009 5:41:54 PM
>   Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Auckland OSNZ conference-related bird sightings
> 
>   Hey Nick,
> 
> The BF Dotts weren't there on Monday afternoon, though I'm sure we were atthe 
same gravel 

>   dot. Saw some dabchicks though.
> 
>   I would like to endorse Nick's comments about the enjoyment of the
>   Conference: though possibly
> after last year, when we organised it; it was more a case of the relief that 

>   we didn't have to look after
>   everyone this time...
> 
> The food was magnificent and the company excellent. Tiri was superb and my 
extra trip on Monday morning, courtesy of Phil Hammond, to Miranda, was 
especially wonderful. Ihad never been there before. 

>   All you bods who have never been to Lake Ellesmere, should appreciate this.
>   And we hope to see you soon.
> 
>   Cheers,
>   Jan
>   On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 10:52 PM, Nick Allen  wrote:
> 
>   >
>   >
> > Just a short note re some bird sightings associated with the conference and 

>   > on journeys in the area during and after.
>   >
> > Thanks to the organisers for putting together an entertaining and enjoyable 

>   > weekend. My non-birding wife very much enjoyed Tiri, and my 16-month-old
>   > daughter enjoyed crawling after the Takahe in the visitor centre. Chasing
>   > after birds from an early age must be in my genes!
>   >
>   > Back to the bird sightings. I went skiving on Saturday afternoon upto
>   > Pakiri Beach and back. Not much was there - a NZ Dotterel and 2 Caspian
>   > Terns being the highlights, but on the way a Kookaburra crossed high over
>   > Leigh Road just north of Matakana, and two Kaka were wheeling over the
>   > southern part of Leigh township.
>   >
>   > On the Sunday I had a chance encounter with Fernbird on Tiri. They are
> > usually very reticent there, but one flew low over the road just in front 
of 

> > me in the pohuehue section just up from the dam near the jetty. If this is 
a 

> > regular occurence it could be a way to see NI Fernbird on the island, 
albeit 

> > briefly. According to a conversation a few years ago with a DoC worker the 

> > species is attracted to chainsaw noise - so lugging one of those around the 

> > island could be another way of connecting with the species, though starting 

>   > and stopping it would be irksome to both the operator and those within
>   > earshot, and explaining it to staff on the island/ferry could be
>   > interesting.
>   >
> > On the way back we just happened to stop off at the sewage works, as you do 

>   > if you get lost in the vicinity of the airport. The tide was out, and the
>   > lagoon full and there weren't too many birds on view close to the road,
>   > though it was nice to see a small roosting flock of 10 Black-fronted
>   > Dotterels on a gravel(?) island on the near edge of the effluent canal. I
> > guess it was as near to a gravel river island as is possible in that part 
of 

>   > Auckland.
>   >
>   > All the best, Nick Allen
>   >
>   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>   > 
>   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
>   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
>   
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
Subject: Re: Kaka in One Tree Hill this evening
From: "bruce896387" <bruce896387 AT yahoo.com.au>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:11:56 -0000
Hi Barbara,
Really good records.

Hope you've taken the tyime to post them on eBird so they can contribute to the 
over all picture of birds in Auckland. 


Cheers
Bruce

--- In BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com, "bahughes"  wrote:
>
> Heard a kaka at One Tree Hill, Auckland, this evening at 5.45pm on our walk. 
It was in the trees near where the chooks and pigeons hang out at the end of 
Twin Oak Dive. Very close to us. Three whistles, a cackle and then it flew to 
the trees by the farmer's cottage near Campbell Rd entrance. Possibly two. 

> 
> In the past two summers we have enjoyed having tuis more frequently round 
this part of Onehunga. Last summer we found a young tui that had fallen out of 
a nest from what we thought was a nest in a neighbours property. We tried to 
place it in the tree in various containers but it kept jumping out and parents 
wouldn't come down to feed it. There was no choice but to take the young tui to 
Silvia Durrant if it was to be fed and survive the domestic pests. Last week 
all the leaves came off our deciduous back garden tree and there in all its 
glory was the tui nest just metres form our backdoor. I've spent many hours in 
the summer wandering round bush areas we have access to trying to find tui 
nests. There was one right by the back door! Great observers we are! Adding to 
the story, the wind blew it down this morning, still intact, so I now have an 
intact tui nest to add to the other collection of nests. Must check with Silvia 
where that tui was released. 

> 
> Cheers 
> Barbara Hughes and Mick Cleland
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
Subject: Re: Galahs: Annual Request
From: "David" <lawrie AT ps.gen.nz>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:39:40 +1200
Terry,
I keep my eye open as I go past at least once a week, but I have not seen them 
this winter yet, although I notice the maize paddocks where they are usually 
seen has not been harvested yet. 

Good luck.
David Lawrie
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: optikcop 
  To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 9:37 AM
  Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Galahs: Annual Request





 Sorry if I'm getting repetitive, but has anyone seen GALAHs this year at 
Mangatawhiri? I'm entering my fourth year of searching for these birds, and 
plan to call there several times per week during the winter again, or until I 
actually see one! ("the beatings will continue until morale improves"...) 

 Any sightings would be most appreciated if they could be posted on BirdingNZ 
please. 

  Terry



  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Kaka
From: Duncan Watson <duncanw AT inthelight.co.nz>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:36:27 +1200
And I saw two Kaka flying over Holloway Road/Aro St in Aro Valley this 
morning.  For those unfamiliar with the area, Holloway Road is a dead 
end street leading to bush (George Denton Park) that backs on to the 
Karori Sanctuary in Wellington, so it isn't too far for the Kaka to 
venture out.  I've seen them in this area a number of times morning and 
night as its on my route to/from work.  They also seem to hang around in 
the trees on the small hill between Raroa Rd, Norway St and Hadfield 
Tce.  Nice to see Kaka in the capital.
Duncan.

1b. Re: Kaka in One Tree Hill this evening
    Posted by: "Michael Szabo" millsszabo AT xtra.co.nz 
    Date: Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:04 am ((PDT))

Nice record - there were also seven Kaka flying around and making a racket in 
trees at the Botanic Gardens in Wellington on Thursday, late afternoon. 


Happy birding!
Michael


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: bahughes 
  To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 6:52 PM
  Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Kaka in One Tree Hill this evening


 Heard a kaka at One Tree Hill, Auckland, this evening at 5.45pm on our walk. 
It was in the trees near where the chooks and pigeons hang out at the end of 
Twin Oak Dive. Very close to us. Three whistles, a cackle and then it flew to 
the trees by the farmer's cottage near Campbell Rd entrance. Possibly two. 


 In the past two summers we have enjoyed having tuis more frequently round this 
part of Onehunga. Last summer we found a young tui that had fallen out of a 
nest from what we thought was a nest in a neighbours property. We tried to 
place it in the tree in various containers but it kept jumping out and parents 
wouldn't come down to feed it. There was no choice but to take the young tui to 
Silvia Durrant if it was to be fed and survive the domestic pests. Last week 
all the leaves came off our deciduous back garden tree and there in all its 
glory was the tui nest just metres form our backdoor. I've spent many hours in 
the summer wandering round bush areas we have access to trying to find tui 
nests. There was one right by the back door! Great observers we are! Adding to 
the story, the wind blew it down this morning, still intact, so I now have an 
intact tui nest to add to the other collection of nests. Must check with Silvia 
where that tui was released. 


  Cheers 
  Barbara Hughes and Mick Cleland
Subject: Otaki teal (3)
From: Colin <hakawai AT paradise.net.nz>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:50:20 +1200
I was at the ponds on sunday morning (15 June). There was no sign of the
bird initially, and there were only half a dozen grey teal among the
hundreds of shoveler and mallards. I then noticed a circling flock of about
a dozen grey teal (didn't see where they had flown up or in from), including
one with a diffuse band of chestnut across its upper breast. They eventually
landed beyond the ponds in another fenced area near the sewage treatment
plant. This proved to be a small pond, elevated a few metres above the two
main ponds. After gaining permission from the recycling depot attendant, I
viewed this small pond from the refuse dumping pit turn-around area, using
25x scope. There were 20 teal and a pair of mallards feeding vigorously in
this small pond (I hate to think what on). The chestnut bird kept mainly
apart from the 19 grey teal, and seemed to associate more with the mallards.
The bird fitted Igor's description, and had no trace of white on rear flank.
I suspect that it is a male chestnut teal in eclipse. Hopefully it will stay
around and develop brighter plumage.

Other birds present included 34+ dabchick, 10 black-fronted dotterels, c.300
shoveler, 12 pied stilt, 29 black swan, 9 paradise shelduck, c.200 mallard,
2 feral geese and a male pheasant (the latter outside the fence). 

Colin Miskelly

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Galahs: Annual Request
From: Phil Hammond <philxhammond AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:52:14 -0700 (PDT)
hi terry and all

went past the onion field where they were last year  on sunday its fallow but 
no galahs, i've been past there a dozen or so times this winter and not seen 
any 


yes a student studying morepork on the island said they were on ponui island 
last summer i think they are there pretty much all the time 


regards phil  

--- On Mon, 15/6/09, optikcop  wrote:

From: optikcop 
Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Galahs: Annual Request
To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com
Received: Monday, 15 June, 2009, 9:37 AM











    
            
            


      
 Sorry if I'm getting repetitive, but has anyone seen GALAHs this year at 
Mangatawhiri? I'm entering my fourth year of searching for these birds, and 
plan to call there several times per week during the winter again, or until I 
actually see one! ("the beatings will continue until morale improves"... ) 


Any sightings would be most appreciated if they could be posted on BirdingNZ 
please. 


Terry




 

      

    
    
	
	 
	
	








	


	
	


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: Galahs: Annual Request
From: "Wendy Hare & Nigel Milius" <whare AT wave.co.nz>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:11:19 +1200
hi Terry
had Galahs in macrocarpas behind "the castle" shop opp Caltex (shop no
longer operating) in April - have looked a couple of times since but no
sign. Saw them in teh same place last year.
group of Colleagues was on sth end of Ponui Is 2 wks ago - no sign of
galahs then
Cheers
Wendy Hare

-----Original Message-----
From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of optikcop
Sent: Monday, 15 June 2009 9:38 a.m.
To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Galahs: Annual Request





Sorry if I'm getting repetitive, but has anyone seen GALAHs this year at
Mangatawhiri? I'm entering my fourth year of searching for these birds,
and plan to call there several times per week during the winter again,
or until I actually see one! ("the beatings will continue until morale
improves"...)
Any sightings would be most appreciated if they could be posted on
BirdingNZ please.
Terry







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Kaka
From: "Alan Emmerson" <emmo66 AT xtra.co.nz>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:29:16 +1200
I had a single Kaka fly over my property in Redvale, just north of Albany, 
yesterday afternoon. This is only the second record for this species since I 
moved here in 2004. 

Cheers,
Alan Emmerson

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]