Information on New Zealand's Pest Birds for Schools - Resources
In the beautiful landscape of Aotearoa, New Zealand, a unique citizen science initiative is encouraging kaitiakitanga (stewardship) among its people. The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, a project driven by Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, invites locals to participate in understanding and preserving both native and introduced bird species.
As tangata whenua (people of the land), Māori have a significant role as kaitiaki (guardians), preserving the mauri (life force), wāhi tapu (sacred sites), and natural taonga (treasures) in their respective areas. This traditional role of kaitiakitanga includes active stewardship or guardianship of the land, with Māori traditionally having their own system of resource management to sustain people and natural resources for the future.
The annual survey provides a simple bird-watching activity that connects ākonga (learners) to nature, raises awareness about local bird species, and fosters a connection between people and nature. Resources for participating in the survey and learning about local birdlife have been developed in collaboration with Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research and the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey.
These resources, published by Referencing Hub media, include a variety of teaching and learning materials such as "Manu - past, present and future", "Bird adaptations and identification", "Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra o Aotearoa - exploring data", "Taking action for our birds", and resources by Yvonne Taura and Milly Grant-Mackie (kairangahau Māori).
The survey collects valuable data nationwide, playing a crucial role in monitoring and understanding the status of bird populations in Aotearoa. The decline of bird populations is impacting pollination and seed dispersal, making this initiative more important than ever.
For those interested in bringing birdsong back to their local environment, resources from the Kids Restore the Kepler project can be found in this collection. The Environment Foundation website also offers information about Māori and biodiversity.
Iwi Māori consider everything living and non-living to be interconnected, with Whakapapa describing these connections and telling the story of how people, the landscape, plants, and animals came into the world. By participating in the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, we not only contribute to scientific knowledge but also honour this interconnectedness and our role as kaitiaki.
For more background information about the survey, read the PLD article "New Zealand Garden Bird Survey - a context for learning". Whether you're a kaiako (teacher) or tauira (student), immerse yourself in learning about local birdlife and become a part of this vital citizen science initiative. The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey website provides additional resources to help you get started.
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