Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra o Aotearoa - The NZ Garden Bird Survey takes place from 24 June - 2 July this year.
Do you want your classroom to take part in this year’s survey? Click on the link provided above to go to the website, which contains everything you need to get your students engaged in science and nature, and become citizen scientists for the day.
Resources include printable identification sheets and posters (available in te reo Māori and English), specific instructions and activities for younger and older children and short, engaging videos that show you how to take part.
The survey lasts one hour. If one hour is too long for your class period, it can be split into two half-hour spells, or three 20-minute spells, or four quarter-hour spells. Children can work together in small groups. Different roles within the group can include a bird spotter, bird counter, bird identifier and results recorder.
Why take part?
- Because it’s a fun activity!
- It can easily be built into the curriculum e.g. animal classification, population studies, hypothesis testing, data gathering, data analysis, report writing.
- It introduces the concept and practice of carrying out simple surveys, which are important for scientific inquiry and a basic tool of conservation (you can’t look after wildlife properly unless you know what’s there and how much of it there is).
- It conveys positive messages about caring for the environment, knowing and protecting what’s there.
- It can be a simple one-off activity or a catalyst for many environmental activities and projects.
- It can contribute to badge work (e.g. Science Badge, Duke of Edinburgh award) and there is also a DOC Kiwi Guardian medal available for completing the survey.
The NZ Garden Bird survey is a project from Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research.
