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2024 braided rivers programme 1

Newsletter #89

Tēnā koutou,
 
It’s great to see so many familiar people are coming to the annual Braided Rivers seminar. There are still places, so check out the programme and booking page here. And yes, you really do need to book in advance!

As several people have suggested content for the seminar that fall outside BRaid’s primary objectives, it’s worth re-iterating those objectives:
 
1. Provide effective leadership and advocacy, and encourage co-operation between all parties whose interests and activities involve braided rivers
2. Promote research and management to reverse the decline of braided river ecosystems
3. Collect, store, and share data and information on braided rivers
 

Interests in braided rivers are often competing and conflicting, the second point is where we find common ground: ecosystem health. I mention this because one common ground is the unanticipated threats from rising temperatures. At the end of this newsletter are links to two research papers  that are worth reading. The first is the unexpected multiplier threat from ‘supercharged’ thunderstorms on floods. While the research is in Australia, the laws of physics don’t stop halfway across the ditch. The second is something I had never considered before: the effects of rising temperature of groundwater on ecosystem health. I’ve also included a link to the interactive map created by the researchers. If you’re morbidly curious, slide across to the Amazon and take a look there as well. And just as a reminder, the average global temperature June 2023 – May 2024 was 1.63°C above the 1850-1900 pre-Industrial average.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the seminar.
 

Ngā mihi,

Sonny Whitelaw
 

Bird Surveys: 

NZ Garden Bird Survey 29 June – 7 July

Reminder, the garden bird survey is coming up soon! See https://gardenbirdsurvey.nz/ for more info.
 
Image: nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news-and-media/latest-news/migratory-shorebirds-and-artificial-roosts
Image: nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news-and-media/latest-news/migratory-shorebirds-and-artificial-roosts

Bird Surveys: 

Request for help with research into Flight Initiation Distances

 
Project Aim
 

People walking nearby often disturb birds from their daily activities – feeding, resting, and socialising. When this happens regularly, there may be effects on body condition, stress levels, and productivity and avoidance or decreased use of resources (nesting or foraging areas).

To help protect birds from regular disturbance by people, we need to estimate the distances over which these effects occur, so that we can recommend protective buffers around habitat of bird species of concern.

These buffer distances may be used, for example, during construction of infrastructure, or designing where in a reserve a walkway may go to avoid disturbing native, and particularly threatened, species.

For most birds, we don’t know these distances.

How you can help
 
We are collecting data on the distances birds become alert to us, and when they flush/move away or start distraction behaviour.
 

But we can’t be everywhere at once or study all species, so we’d like your help.

Do you walk somewhere where birds are? Are you happy to collect data?

Collecting data is not too onerous. Just pop a datasheet (xls file) in your pocket and a pencil, and if you notice any birds when you are out and about, note the distances at which they became alert to you and either fly, move away or begin distraction displays (more information: PDF)

You can then post the datasheet (or scan and email it) to:

Kerry Borkin
DOC Office
PO Box 528. Taupo 3351
 
 

News

Research & Reports

“ In media articles about unprecedented flooding, you’ll often come across the statement that for every 1°C of warming, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture. This figure comes from research undertaken by the French engineer Sadi Carnot and published 200 years ago this year.

“We now know there’s more to the story. Yes, a hotter atmosphere has the capacity to hold more moisture. But the condensation of water vapour to make rain droplets releases heat. This, in turn, can fuel stronger convection in thunderstorms, which can then dump substantially more rain.

“This means that the intensity of extreme rainfall could increase by much more than 7% per degree of warming. What we’re seeing is that thunderstorms can likely dump about double or triple that rate – around 14–21% more rain for each degree of warming.”

(Click the image to be taken to the interactive global Atlas; you will need to move across to Aotearoa as it open over the US.) "Shallow soil and groundwater warming may also cause temperatures in water distribution networks to cross critical thresholds, with potential health implications such as the growth of pathogens such as Legionella spp." - Benz et al.
(Click the image to be taken to the interactive global Atlas; you will need to move across to Aotearoa as it open over the US.) “Shallow soil and groundwater warming may also cause temperatures in water distribution networks to cross critical thresholds, with potential health implications such as the growth of pathogens such as Legionella spp.” – Benz et al.
"Average global temperature June 2023 – May 2024: 1.63°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. Monthly global surface air temperature anomalies (°C) relative to 1850–1900 from January 1940 to May 2024, plotted as time series for consecutive 12-month periods spanning June to May of the following year. The last 12 months (June 2023 – May 2024) are shown with a thick red line while all other years with thin lines shaded according to the decade, from blue (1940s) to brick red (2020s). Data source: ERA5. Credit: C3S/ECMWF." NOTE: the 1.5°C 'limit' under the Paris Accord is based on averages exceeding 1.5°C for 20-30 years of past observations.
“Average global temperature June 2023 – May 2024: 1.63°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. Monthly global surface air temperature anomalies (°C) relative to 1850–1900 from January 1940 to May 2024, plotted as time series for consecutive 12-month periods spanning June to May of the following year. The last 12 months (June 2023 – May 2024) are shown with a thick red line while all other years with thin lines shaded according to the decade, from blue (1940s) to brick red (2020s). Data source: ERA5. Credit: C3S/ECMWF.” NOTE: the 1.5°C ‘limit’ under the Paris Accord is based on averages exceeding 1.5°C for 20-30 years of past observations.

Donations

BRaid is an Incorporated Society (No: 2453663) with Charitable Status  (Registration Number CC50089). Membership is free but donations are much appreciated. Donations can be made to BRaid Inc. Account number: 01 0877 0818466 00. Please include your name in the reference line and ideally email us, so that we can thank you and send you a receipt. Donations are tax deductible citing our NZ Business Number 9429043210572.

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