Birds
Avian twittersphere: why birds listen in
It turns out birds can be just as skilled as humans at eavesdropping and one bird's distress tweet can go viral. Australian scientists have discovered that fairy-wrens, small Australian songbirds, can… Audio
Rare bird ruffles feathers at Belgian nudist beach
Too many birds on a nudist beach is rarely a problem. But it's one Belgium nudists are now facing when a wildlife agency raised concerns that sexual activity could scare off a rare crested lark which… Audio
Native birds doing well in Wellington
A renaissance in native forest bird numbers in the capital is helped by urban bush and Predator Free Wellington efforts. Audio
Our Changing World for 5 July 2018
Testing kauri seedlings to find individual trees that might be resistant to kauri dieback disease, and native forest birds are thriving in Wellington city parks and reserves. Audio
Ron Nilsson: seeking the elusive South Island kōkako
For the past 30 years Ron Nilsson has been trying to get conclusive scientific existence that the South Island kokako - a bird officially listed as extinct in 2007 - is alive. Audio
Seabird hotspot - the Poor Knights Islands
A team of seabird experts experience the joys and challenges of counting Buller's shearwaters on the predator-free Poor Knights Islands. Audio
Our Changing World for 12 April 2018
The Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust is shining a spotlight on seabird diversity in the Hauraki Gulf - including Buller's shearwaters that breed on the Poor Knights Islands. Audio
Turnaround in takahē's fortunes
An expedition into Fiordland reveals that takahē numbers are on the rise, and there will soon be a new takahē population in Northwest Nelson. Audio
ZEALANDIA goes beyond the fence
Wellington's ZEALANDIA wildlife centre is going beyond its predator proof fence and expanding its conservation aims with a new research centre and ambitious new long term goals. In just 22 years the… Audio, Gallery
Chemical camouflage - putting predators off the scent
Could chemical camouflage save rare birds by putting predators off the scent? Ecologists are testing the idea in the Mackenzie Basin. Video, Audio
Our Changing World for 1 February 2018
Chemical camouflage is put to the test in the Mckenzie Basin to see if it can protect nesting shore birds from predators, and the discovery of the first male in an all-female population of stick… Audio
Fire: Not just a human tool
A new paper has collected accounts from witnesses in Australia of birds using fire to hunt prey. It's the first recorded phenomenon of non-humans using fire this way, but has been lore among… Audio
Good news for Kaikōura's Hutton shearwaters
The first ground visit to the Hutton's shearwater breeding colony since the November 2017 Kaikōura earthquake shows damage not as bad as feared. Audio
New signs warn motorists of low flying kererū
New traffic signs are reminding Wellington motorists to watch out for low flying kererū.
Kawau paka
Silent except at nesting colonies and during courtship, the little shag's greeting call is used when approaching the nest to change over or to bring food. Audio
Tawaki - the mysterious forest penguin
Scientists are discovering that tawaki, or Fiordland crested penguins, living in MIlford Sound are thriving - and breaking all the penguin rules. Audio
Our Changing World for 7 December 2017
Penguin researchers head to Fiordland's forests to study the mysterious tawaki or Fiordland crested penguin. Audio
Bird protection software
A network of wildlife sanctuaries has led to the reintroduction of many of New Zealand's native bird species, and now machine learning software could be an important tool in monitoring the survival of… Audio, Gallery
Flap battles: Tuneful rivals ruffle tui's feathers
Tui get more aggressive towards rivals who are better singers, Massey University researchers have discovered.
Protecting NZ's native birds of prey
Debbie Stewart has spent the last 3 decades protecting, and rehabilitating New Zealand's threatened birds of prey. She set up the Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre in Rotorua where she pioneered… Audio, Gallery
