Newsletter #9
Hello everyone,
Four days after posting ‘Where will estuaries be allowed to go?’, which asks what will happen as sea levels rise along Pegasus Bay, NOAA released an advisory for a possible historic (think 1997 event) El Niño brewing.
On the other side of the Pacific along the west coast of the US, the opposite happens. El Niños mean Biblical storms and floods. The rate of regional sea-level rise also slows, which historically has led to claims this is ‘proof’ that global climate change is a hoax. Cautionary tales about cherry-picking the short term local effect of El Niño onto a global (and increasingly alarming – see this paper released yesterday) long term climate trend notwithstanding, here in New Zealand, El Niños are a taste of what to expect in a warmer and dryer world. Mohssen et al (2011) outlines what we might expect in the Canterbury Plains and Alpine catchments. Given the past dry summer, I was reminded by my Latin speaking editor that the word “rival” is derived from the Latin “rivalis,” which means “one using the same stream as another.”
Feedback from you about the video of the black-gull gobbling down dotterel chicks inspired me to add more videos, these ones featuring a hedgehog and a ferret. More videos are always welcome as they are an incredibly useful educational tool.
Cheers,
– Sonny Whitelaw, BRaid Manager (manager@braid.org.nz)
Waiau Braided River Bird Survey 2015
Over the next three years, ECan will be resurveying braided river birds on the Waiau River (above Hanmer Springs to the sea). They are planning this year’s bird survey for 20-23rd October (Monday 26th is a public holiday), with a backup of 17-23rd November. As there are only three people in their team, they need help to get the survey done.
New kakī release site in Canterbury?
Representatives from Ngai Tahu, the Tūhaitara Coastal Park and the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group met with DOC to look at progressing the exciting possibility of a kakī reintroduction.
NZ– the hotspot for a large scale global decline in seabirds
A paper published in PLOS ONE a few days ago indicates grim news for seabirds, and New Zealand waters are in the thick of it.
Human pharmaceuticals change bird behaviours
Recent research suggests that the commonly prescribed psychiatric drug, Prozac, occurs at environmentally relevant concentrations that can significantly alter behaviour and physiology in wild birds. And Prozac is not the only drug.
Track updates: Arthur’s Pass, North Canterbury & Banks
There’s a few new updates to note, particularly as a result of the wintery conditions.
Funding opportunities
- WWF funding Habitat Protection Fund closes this Friday (31 July).
- The Department of Internal Affairs Lotto Environment Fund is now open.
- I’ve added a 30-page current ‘Guide to Funding‘ that covers the major conservation funding options in Canterbury for groups, landowners, and schools, and a few tips and tricks to finding funding sources, to the website under ‘Resources‘. Also under ‘Resources’ are dozens of links to all kinds of useful information like Iwi Managment Plans (Canterbury) and key Government Acts and policies to help support submissions, to some great sites and apps to help identify everything from aphids to zotovisa.
AGM
Our next meeting, which is also our AGM, will be held 1.00pm Monday 7th September at 31 Ngai Mahi Road Christchurch (map).
Membership
If you are not already a member of BRaid, you can join as a General, Casual, or Representative member. Membership is a modest $20/annum and entitles you to vote, receive periodic print newsletters and help BRaid continue to operate. As the AGM is coming up soon, this is also your opportunity to take a place on the management committee to help direct BRaid’s activities.
Braided River bird courses
We’re currently in the final stages and once details are finalised, I should be able to announce dates in November and will email everyone directly.
Upper Waimakariri River Bird Count 2015: At this stage, it has been postponed to 2016.
