As we near the end of the NZ Garden Bird Survey in 2021 the results from last year have just been released.

Over the last six months the launch of an exciting new conservation initiative has seen researchers at the University of Otago walking into the backyards of 78 homes to check out and mark down what’s growing where.

In the heat of summer your local birdlife needs a reliable chill-out spot, a space they can drink and wash in. It’s good for them and it’s great for nature lovers too.

Our World of Nature this month shares the story of an incredible bar-tailed godwit that has travelled more than 12,000km to set a new world record for avian non-stop flight.

With warmer weather and more sunlight now is the time to plan and plant in the backyard. There’s plenty of good company in the garden too. Your feathered friends will be busy nest building, breeding and feeding their young chicks.

If you’re anything like us these recent weekends will have been spent in the backyard tidying up and planting now that spring is here. Check out our short guide to getting the most from your garden.

The 2019 New Zealand Garden Bird Survey will take place between the 29th of June and the 7th of July. During this time thousands of Kiwis will take one hour out of their day with a hot cuppa and a pen and pad to sit down and record the birds in their backyard, local park or school.

Now we’re in the depths of autumn it’s important to look after your place for the people (and birds) that live there. Yes, it’s time to keep an eagle eye on your property, and to get your ducks in a row, before the chickens come home to roost…