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Percentage of counts above the median (± 95% binomial confidence limits) of silvereye, tui, and bellbird recorded in gardens with provision of sugarwater (with and without other food), other food, and no food, average 2007–2010 (n = number of gardens surveyed). Differences between food types significant (P <0.05) for all species.
Source publication
The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey started in 2007 primarily to monitor long-term trends in common garden bird populations. The method was based on the Big Garden Birdwatch in the UK. Volunteers spent one hour in midwinter each year recording for each bird species the largest number of individuals detected at any one time in their gardens, as an in...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... number of counts of silvereye, tui, and bellbird above the median were highest in gardens where sugar-water (with and without other supplementary food) was provided (Fig. 5). For silvereye they were 3.7 times higher, tui 1.1 times higher, and bellbird 2.3 times higher than in gardens where there was no supplementary food (χ² values all P < 0.001, d.f. = 1). The maximum numbers of these species counted at (separate) sugar-water feeders were 400 silvereyes, 58 tui, and 45 bellbirds. Some participants ...
Citations
... They have been recorded from the Snares Is / Tini Heke, which are 105 km from the nearest source population on islands off southern Stewart I. (Miskelly et al. 2001). One bird translocated 65 km to Motuihe I. from Hauturu returned within 50 days (Ortiz-Catedral 2010), and others were reported in Torbay and Glenfield, Auckland, 20-25 km from the source Tiritiri Matangi I. (Spurr 2012). They are "commonly seen moving about island archipelagos such as Mokohinau and Mercury particularly when flax is beginning to flower" (T Greene, DOC, pers. ...
... In New Zealand cities, it is extremely uncommon to find more than 10 native bird species in urban forests (e.g. Heggie-Gracie et al., 2020;Spurr, 2012). Therefore, the low number of native forest bird species detected in this study reflects the current realized diversity in urban ecosystems. ...
Urbanization, and the drastic loss of habitat it entails, poses a major threat to global avian biodiversity. Ecological restoration of urban forests is therefore increasingly vital for native bird conservation, but control of invasive predators may also be needed to sustain native bird populations in cities where species invasions have been particularly severe.
We evaluated restoration success by investigating changes in native bird communities along a restoration chronosequence of 25 restored urban forests representing 72 years of forest development, which we compared to two target reference systems and a control system. We hypothesized that total species richness and relative abundance of native forest birds would increase with the age of restoration planting. We further hypothesized that relative abundance of rats, possums and cats would negatively impact native birds, while amount of native forest in the surrounding landscape would have a positive effect.
We used structural equation modelling (SEM) to investigate the relative influence of forest structure (complexity index, tree height, canopy openness, basal area, species richness and density), landscape attributes (patch area, perimeter length, landscape composition within three buffer zones, distance to the nearest road and water source) and invasive mammalian predator indices of relative abundance on total species richness and relative abundance of native forest birds.
Species richness increased with age of restoration planting, with community composition progressing towards that found in target reference systems. SEM revealed that years restored was a direct driver of bird species richness but an indirect driver of abundance, which was directly driven by canopy openness. Contrary to our predictions, invasive mammals had no significant effect on native bird species richness or abundance.
Our results demonstrate that provision and improvement of habitat quantity and quality through restoration is the vital first step to re‐establishing native forest bird communities in cities.
... The NZGBS began in 2007 and was modelled on garden bird surveys in the northern hemisphere. People participate by counting the maximum number and type of birds they see or hear at one time in their gardens, local parks, and/or schools for one hour during a week in winter (Spurr 2012). Participants then upload their bird counts to an online form that records their observations against their location. ...
As the effects of the anthropocene continue, the presence and absence of birds has become a growing concern. Citizen science provides a way to collect data about birds and their locations while also building citizen engagement with biodiversity. Recent research on citizen science has highlighted the need to move beyond monitoring projects to understand the outcomes and impacts of citizen science for social-ecological systems. Researchers have explored how science constructs certain categories and ways of knowing, people’s diverse participation experiences, and the potential changes in ecological systems as people shift their practices (or not) in response to citizen science. In this article, we draw on research from a citizen science initiative, the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, to describe the self-reported outcomes for participants, and consequent impacts/actions for people and nature. We then use the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) to organise the outcomes and impacts to make visible the diverse values around nature that are expressed and fostered through the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey. We conclude by suggesting how citizen science can help mobilise action for more diverse nature futures.
... This paper uses a case study to demonstrate how to address these issues. Specifically, it assesses the state of New Zealand's garden birds at national to local scales, based on an analysis of winter counts gathered by citizen scientists participating in the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey (NZGBS; Spurr, 2012). Focusing on 14 common species, it: (1) calculates changes in bird counts for national, regional and local scales over three medium-term and two short-term periods; (2) uses a standardized alert system to identify trends of interest or concern; and (3) ...
... Bird count data were gathered by citizen scientists participating in the NZGBS, an annual nationwide event that has run for 9 days in midwinter since 2007 (Spurr, 2012). Participants selected a day and recorded in a garden, park or school for an hour the maximum number of birds per species they saw or heard at any one time. ...
... Participants selected a day and recorded in a garden, park or school for an hour the maximum number of birds per species they saw or heard at any one time. The data were collected via an online form (which included automated data validation rules) or, for paper forms, by post and edited using standardized protocols (MacLeod et al., 2019a;MacLeod, Howard, Green et al., 2019;Spurr, 2012). ...
Better biodiversity indicators are needed to address information gaps, describe trends accurately and robustly and be useful for decisionmakers. Citizen science's potential to help address these challenges often goes unrealized, despite promises by organizers to deliver such information.
This paper addresses these challenges by demonstrating the powerful utility of citizen science results for improving our knowledge of the state of New Zealand's garden birds, from the national to the local scale. For 14 species and three annual assessments, we: (a) calculate changes in bird counts over the medium to short term (over 10 and 5 years, respectively); (b) use an alert system to identify trends of interest or concern and collate the assessments in an online interactive tool; and (c) apply the results to address management questions.
Seven species have declined nationally in gardens in the medium term, but the population trends of six of these have improved in the short term (the declines of three have been reversed). For Otago, as a regional example, a wider range of medium‐term alerts was initially raised, and positive short‐term changes were also more evident. Performance differed across Otago's districts: positive increases were muted in Dunedin City, while Waitaki had the highest number of increasing species and Central Otago more species rapidly increasing.
For 54 neighbourhoods managed by Predator Free Dunedin, as a local example, the baseline medium‐term assessment detected rapid declines in two species, moderate to shallow declines in five species and increases in three species.
Based on these findings, managers could improve benefits for biodiversity by using: (a) trends, to direct and evaluate policy investments; (b) benchmarks, to provide social incentives; and (c) targets, to give management purpose and direction.
Our case study highlights how citizen science can address biodiversity information gaps and make powerful management contributions at scale by delivering metrics that are robust and comparable across time and space, showing decisionmakers how to readily access and interpret information of interest, building trust and value and highlighting how spatially hierarchical assessments can facilitate multiple end‐user benefits.
... A systematic review by Amaya-Espinel and Hostetler (2019) demonstrated that many birds species that typically breed in large forest tracts in North America are found in urban forest fragments and residential areas during migration and winter seasons in South America. Also, Spurr (2012) found that the presence of exotic vegetation in residential yards provides novel food resources for birds throughout the year, that are typically not available from native plants. This may be especially important for frugivores and nectivores (Spurr 2012). ...
... Also, Spurr (2012) found that the presence of exotic vegetation in residential yards provides novel food resources for birds throughout the year, that are typically not available from native plants. This may be especially important for frugivores and nectivores (Spurr 2012). ...
Although urban habitats might not be suitable breeding habitat for many bird species, they can provide valuable wintering habitat. Specifically, residential areas and urban forest fragments can be used by birds during the non-breeding times. Study objectives were: (1) to determine which species primarily use urban forest fragments versus adjacent residential areas during winter; and (2) to assess the influence of species functional traits on habitat preference. Conducted in Gainesville, Florida, 36 random points were situated in urban forest fragments, adjacent residential areas, and forest-residential edges during the winter of 2020. Forty-one total species were observed throughout the study area. Thirteen species (32%) significantly preferred residential areas, 6 (15%) significantly preferred urban forest fragments, and 22 (53%) showed no significant preference to a habitat. Of the birds that significantly preferred residential habitats, there were 4 frugivores species (100%), 2 omnivore species (29%), and 4 granivore species (57%). Five (23%) insectivore species preferred fragments, but 3 (13%) preferred the residential habitat. Analyses demonstrated that forest fragments contained more vertical vegetation structure with more vegetation at the ground, understory, and canopy levels. Residential habitats and urban forest fragments were able to support a wide variety of bird species during the winter in Gainesville. These results point towards the importance of conserving vegetation in residential habitats, including large trees and understory vegetation, as well as retaining small forest fragments throughout urban areas as habitat for birds during the winter.
... Tūī is an iconic New Zealand species with distinctive appearance and song and is important for pollination and seed dispersal of native trees and shrubs . Although tūī live mainly in native forest and shrublands, it has also readily adapted to feeding on the nectar and fruit of planted exotic trees and shrubs in rural and urban gardens and parks (Higgins et al. 2001;Spurr 2012;Robertson 2013). Being iconic, ecologically important, and regularly encountered by people, tūī often attract the focus of community conservation initiatives such as planting of food trees and control measures to reduce pest predator populations (Bergquist 1989). ...
Public and our observations during 1999-2004 suggested that tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) visited the city of Hamilton during March to October only, outside the nesting season. From 2004 onwards, we captured and banded 51 adult tūī and fitted radio transmitters to 41 in Waikato urban areas to locate nests. We directly observed 15 nests to determine nesting success and gather evidence of any predation events. Tūī moved 5-23 km from urban areas to surrounding native forests at the onset of nesting, but only four (29%) of 14 unmanaged nests fledged young, due mostly to predation by ship rats (Rattus rattus), swamp harriers (Circus approximans), and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). Subsequent effective pest mammal control in forests around Hamilton was associated with greatly increased year-round tūī abundance and nesting in Hamilton. These results confirm previous findings that tūī move widely in winter; that they readily cross pasture in the absence of forest corridors, and that they will permanently inhabit urban areas. Provided adequate food is available, effective control of ship rats and possums can rapidly (1-4 years) increase tūī visits and nesting within 20 km of managed sites, enabling recolonisation of proximate urban habitats by this iconic endemic taxon, despite previous evidence for natal philopatry. Fitzgerald, N.; Innes, J.; Watts, C.; Thornburrow, D.; Bartlam, S.; Collins, K.; Byers, D.; Burns, B. 2021. Increasing urban abundance of tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) by pest mammal control in surrounding forests. Notornis 68(2): 93-107.
... As a result, studies that monitor avian biodiversity have been widely conducted within New Zealand (e.g. MacLeod et al. 2012;Spurr 2012;Hill et al. 2015;Walker and Monks 2018;Landers et al. 2019). Long-term monitoring of avian biodiversity can be used to measure and quantify the effect of conservation and restoration efforts (Peters et al. 2016;Sullivan and Molles 2016). ...
Birds are good indicators of ecosystem health. Monitoring populations can provide useful information to inform conservation action. Kaipatiki, Auckland, contains approximately 450 ha of indigenous forest, scrub and wetland ecosystems. Pest-controlled reserves are important for supporting avian biodiversity, however, this has not been measured extensively over time across Kaipatiki. An established method to measure changes in avian biodiversity and numbers over time is using stationary point-counts. Using this method, bird counts were conducted in 19 reserves during three consecutive breeding season periods (2016–2018). We also conducted correlative analyses on mammalian predator and bird abundance within Kaipatiki to examine these relationships. Mixed modelling statistical analyses suggested significantly higher numbers of individual birds of all detected species in 2018 than both 2016 and 2017. Tūī, silvereye, grey warbler and fantail were the most common native species observed. Further, rat relative abundance had a significant negative relationship with bird abundance. Ongoing bird counts across Kaipatiki will help provide robust long-term data allowing reliable analyses of population trends and avian species dynamics. These data should be subjected to correlative analyses alongside mammalian predator control data in each reserve. This will enable us to gauge predator control effectiveness in terms of native bird number changes.
... The goal of Predator Free 2050 (Department of Conservation, 2018) has highlighted the value of NZ's native species, as well as sparking debate on the best way to eradicate introduced predator species. Citizen science initiatives such as NatureWatch (which soon merged with the global iNaturalist (iNaturalist, 2018)), Marine Metre Squared (Fleming et al., 2017), the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey (Spurr, 2012;Liberatore et al., 2018) or Ahi Pepe Mothnet (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, 2018) have transformed science engagement across the country, by increasing participation and engagement of young and old. Volunteers are important for the success of many of the environmental projects. ...
Modern science communication has emerged in the twentieth century as a field of study, a body of practice and a profession—and it is a practice with deep historical roots. We have seen the birth of interactive science centres, the first university actions in teaching and conducting research, and a sharp growth in employment of science communicators.
This collection charts the emergence of modern science communication across the world. This is the first volume to map investment around the globe in science centres, university courses and research, publications and conferences as well as tell the national stories of science communication.
How did it all begin? How has development varied from one country to another? What motivated governments, institutions and people to see science communication as an answer to questions of the social place of science?
Communicating Science describes the pathways followed by 39 different countries. All continents and many cultures are represented. For some countries, this is the first time that their science communication story has been told.
Edited by: Toss Gascoigne, Bernard Schiele, Joan Leach, Michelle Riedlinger, Bruce V. Lewenstein, Luisa Massarani, Peter Broks
Download the book FREE at: https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/communicating-science
... Here we provide such review and assessment, using the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey (NZGBS; Spurr, 2012) as a case study in which web-based tools were designed and employed with the goal of enabling such democratisation processes to increase engagement with the results of the initiative through four key steps (Figure 1): ...
Citizen science is frequently cited as a successful approach for increasing public engagement with environmental issues, but this requires a purposeful design that is inclusive of, and responsive to, diverse interests. This paper explores the mechanisms for improving participant and public engagement with citizen science results, using the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey (NZGBS) as a case study. It investigates how citizen science can apply democratic processes to be more responsive, while drawing on insights from behaviour change frameworks to facilitate a purposeful design.
By inviting NZGBS participants to select, inform and peer review the design and promotion of new resources, our goal was to embed their values, opinions and perspectives into the developments. This not only empowered 15,844 respondents to contribute directly to the citizen science initiative's governance over 6 years, but also made it more engaging and useful to them and the wider public.
New resources were designed to create a sense of collective action, making them attractive, easy to understand and promote on multiple media channels, aiming to reach a wider range of audiences. By diversifying and refining our communication strategy, we successfully enhanced the level and nature of engagement with the resources. The number and diversity of NZGBS participants also increased to involve people from a wider range of backgrounds and roles, ethnicities and ages.
By applying a democratic process, we demonstrate how citizen scientist perspectives were elevated, to offset and mitigate the influence of institutional powers, which can dominate and shape engagement processes. We also highlight the value of behaviour change frameworks for understanding how choice architecture, social networks and key influencers, and their complex interactions can create the enabling environment required for engagement.
A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
... The goal of Predator Free 2050 (Department of Conservation, 2018) has highlighted the value of NZ's native species, as well as sparking debate on the best way to eradicate introduced predator species. Citizen science initiatives such as NatureWatch (which soon merged with the global iNaturalist (iNaturalist, 2018)), Marine Metre Squared , the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey (Spurr, 2012;Liberatore et al., 2018) or Ahi Pepe Mothnet (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, 2018) have transformed science engagement across the country, by increasing participation and engagement of young and old. Volunteers are important for the success of many of the environmental projects. ...
MEDIA RELEASE 15 September 2020
Communicating Science: A Global Perspective
Kia hiwa ra, kia hiwa ra,
Kia hiwa i tēnei tuku, kia hiwa ra i tērā tuku,
Kua puta mai ā tētahi pukapuka hou, ‘Communicating Science. A global perspective’ a Mane 14 Mahuru, i roto i Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
Kia hiwa ra, kia hiwa ra.
Attention, Attention,
Attention far and wide,
A new book ‘Communicating Science. A global perspective’ was released on Monday 14 September, during Māori Language Week.
Attention, attention.
This is a huge book of 996 pages, documenting the global emergence of modern science communication. One of the first of its 40 chapters, covering 39 countries, is one on Aotearoa New Zealand, entitled “Participatory science and bicultural knowledge communication”.
The book’s Chief Editor, Toss Gascoigne, a visiting fellow at the Australian National University, says he is delighted with Aotearoa’s contribution. “The book is important, because we learn from each other, both successes and failures,” he says. A new book ‘Communicating Science. A global perspective’ was released on Monday 14 September and launched online at 12 pm 15 September 2020, GMT. It includes a chapter on Aotearoa New Zealand, entitled “Participatory science and bicultural knowledge communication”.
The book documents the global emergence of modern science communication. It has 40 chapters, 108 authors, and covers 39 countries. It’s a huge book: 996 pages.
This is the first study describing how science communication has developed around the world. The book covers all regions and all cultures, including nations across Europe, Asia and the Americas, and emerging economies like Russia, Jamaica, Estonia, Iran and Pakistan.
The Aotearoa New Zealand chapter was written by Jean Fleming (Centre for Science Communication, The University of Otago), Nancy Longnecker (Centre for Science Communication, The University of Otago), Rhian Salmon (Centre for Science in Society, Victoria University of Wellington and Te Pūnaha Matatini) and Daniel Hikuroa (University of Auckland, Te Pūnaha Matatini and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga).
The last twenty years has seen a steady increase in the collaboration of mātauranga Māori with western science, at a time of heightened environmental issues. Māori researchers have pushed to widen the perspectives of the scientific community, using dialogue initially, but increasingly by engaging communities with mātauranga. Māori have taken science communication in Aotearoa NZ in new directions, with an increasing emphasis on inherent values of the science being communicated.
Coincident with those efforts has been an increase in the use of Māori language in scientific endeavour, including the practice of translating abstracts into Māori.
A recent rise in education, jobs and funding opportunities in science communication in Aotearoa has also led to a substantial increase in the number and diversity of science engagement initiatives and participatory science programmes, a good proportion concerning environmental protection and restoration. As a result, Aotearoa’s communities are engaging more with science, hopefully resulting in more science-literate publics and a more public-literate and bicultural science community.
The serendipitous release of the book during Māori Language Week could be viewed by some as a tohu – a positive sign. The authors are nevertheless thrilled by the coincidence.
Author Jean Fleming, Professor Emerita in Science Communication at The University of Otago, says “The Aotearoa New Zealand chapter stands out in this important book, highlighting two areas where our scientists now listen to and accept the views and data of others more and more. I am delighted that this chapter is being launched during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori”.
“Communicating Science. A Global Perspective” is available for free download at ANU Press: https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/communicating-science. Hard copies will be printed on demand.
For interviews and enquiries please contact:
Jean S Fleming (jean.fleming@otago.ac.nz; +64 27 379 9798)
Rhian Salmon (Rhian.salmon@vuw.ac.nz; +64 21 298 4319)
Nancy Longnecker (nancy.longnecker@otago.ac.nz; +64 22 438 0708)
Dan Hikuroa (d.hikuroa@auckland.ac.nz; +64 21 246 9999, @DanHikuroa)
