January
Field Course 10-16 January FULL
March
Migration Day – Sunday 7 March, 11am
Dr Oksana Borowik will be speaking about her conservation and science work. Dr Oksana completed her PhD on Calidridine sandpipers. From there her career took off as a science educator through documentary filmmaking primarily for the Discovery Channel and teaching. She is also a commercial beekeeper on the Coromandel Peninsula specialising in manuka honey.
May
AGM – Sunday 16 May, 11am
Lynn Miller from Bird Rescue, Green Bay, who recently returned to New Zealand after several years in the US and Canada will be speaking about her work. She has formidable qualifications and experience as a bird vet and is proving a huge asset to local bird rescue work.
June
BirdNZ Conference 4-7 June, Thames
Firth of Thames Wader Census – Sunday 20 June
Contact Tony Habraken at 09 238 5284 or aahabraken@gmail.com
August
Working Bee / Pot Luck Dinner / Quiz Night – Saturday 14 August
Dotterel Management Course 31 August – 2 September
October
Migration Day – Sunday 10 October
November
Firth of Thames Wader Census – Sunday 7 November
PAST EVENTS
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June – Planting Weekend
The Friends of the Findlay Reserve will have 10,000 plants to put in the ground and continue the work to restore the mauri of the land. We will need all hands on deck so if you would like to help us, contact Chelsea at the Centre – admin@shorebirds.org.nz
Sunday 28th June – Birds New Zealand – Firth of Thames Wader Census
Help us collect the winter census data for the Firth of Thames. Phone Tony Habraken on 09 238 5284 for details.
Sunday 28th June 2:00PM – AGM
Our Annual General Meeting, which has been rescheduled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is now scheduled for 2pm Sunday 28th June subject to any restrictions that may apply at the time. This is also the Firth of Thames Wader Census day so see the details below if you’d like to join in or with the 12:30pm high tide there will be good birdwatching before the meeting. After the AGM Adrian Riegen and Jim Eagles will report on the godwit and Kuriri tracking projects.
Saturday August 15th 6:00PM – Winter Potluck Dinner
There will be a Working Bee from 10:00AM to 2:00PM and then it will be a good time to watch the birds around the high tide at 4:00PM. Followed by a Potluck dinner at 6:00PM.
Saturday 10 October – Working Bee
Time: 9am-1pm
Get stuck in and help us with some odd jobs around the Centre and the hides:
- We need to recover the plywood Godwit hide “wings” which were washed away in the 2018 storm. They are in the mud in the mangroves. We need strong folk prepared to get muddy.
- The wings need reinstating on the hide. You will need a hammer, we have spades.
- Someone with a trailer prepared to take stuff to the recycle centre and/or dump in Thames.
- The flax along the path behind Widgery Lake needs a good trim. You will need a pruning saw.
- Some of the plants need to be freed from weeds. Gloves and secateurs.
- The Centre windows need cleaning inside and out. We have ladders, please bring squeegies and cloths.
If you can help please contact the Centre admin@shorebirds.org.nz or phone 09 232 2781.
Sunday October 18th – Welcome to the Birds / Open Day
Time: Good bird watching from 7am. High tide at 9am. Presentation at 11am.
Bird Watching: Come and see the newly returned birds, including juvenile godwits.
Presentation: Jim Eagles will talk about his visit to Seward Peninsula in Alaska. Despite the paucity of signals from those troublesome birds, we do at least now know that this area is home for some of ‘our’ Pacific Golden Plovers.
New Visitors Welcome! Welcome to the Birds is a good opportunity for those who haven’t visited Pukorokoro / Miranda before to see the Centre in action, find out what we’re all about, and try some bird watching while there’s many experts on hand to assist.
Sunday 22nd November – Birds New Zealand – Firth of Thames Wader Census
Help us collect the summer census data for the Firth of Thames. Phone Tony Habraken on 09 238 5284 for details.