Volunteers

interested in volunteering opportunities with us ~ we would like to hear from you…

Introducing some of our threatened species conservation programme volunteers.

Taylor Hume joined us at the start of the 2017/2018 Makarora braided river bird survey season. Since then she has been fortunate to be awarded an Internship with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC).

Taylor is a Zoology graduate with Hons from Australia. Since graduating Taylor has shown commitment to her chosen path; immersing herself in volunteering activities to develop her fauna and flora survey skills and experience to help develop a career in wildlife conservation. She has volunteered on various projects in a range of environments with various species groups including mammals and sea turtles. Taylor welcomed the opportunity to expand her bird survey skills with us within the dynamic braided river environment of the Makarora River.

Taylor Hume on the braid plain of the Makarora River

“Rachel Hufton and Anthony Coote taught me valuable skills like how to safely cross rivers as a team, identify wetland bird species in the area by call and morphology, and how to make observations and communicate together to prevent miscounting and re-counting individuals. It was a valuable experience that allowed me to familiarise myself with cryptic braided river bird species such as wrybill, which can be difficult to survey within this environment and that I might not of otherwise seen.”

We wish Taylor every success with her AWC Internship, her commitment and enthusiasm will certainly benefit a future career in wildlife conservation.

Rod Elliott from Lake Hawea has been volunteering with ABT since April 2018 and has been instrumental to the setting up of the braided river bird restoration programme.

Captain Rod and his jet boat on the Makarora (winter 2018)

Rod enjoys getting out within the stunning Makarora valley and utilising his jet boat to help restore populations of endangered braided river birds through contributing to the ABT invasive mammalian predator control programme.

His generous efforts transporting traps and trap servicing volunteers on the river are greatly appreciated and will certainly be valued by returning wrybills, black-fronted terns and black-billed gulls during the up coming breeding season.

We are all looking forward to the spring.

With thanks to Rod!

Nick Beckwith from Dunedin is a keen bird enthusiast, photographer and supportive member of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Historically he has been spending time in the Makarora region enjoying the scenery and local fishing in the pristine waters.

Nick helping with installation of rock wren protection upper Lucidus/ Lake Castalia

It has been great to have Nick helping out on ABT’s braided river bird surveys and alpine invasive mammal trapping for rock wren protection this season.

“Still on a high after those 3 awesome days in that amazing location carrying out trap installation for rock wren protection. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be part of the operation. If there is a place for me to help again… yes please ! “

Thanks Nick!

Ardi Bernasconi international ski racing coach and trainer from Switzerland spends most of his time in the mountains of New Zealand and Europe but welcomed the change of habitat to spend some time volunteering with ABT on the beautiful Makarora River.

Dr Andrew Shepherd is a resident of Makarora and has made a valuable contribution to the setting up of invasive mammal trapping programes for Makarora catchment threatened species protection – including braided river birds and the endangered alpine rock wren. Previously the Co-Director for A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand, Andrew is now employed by the University of Otago where he teachers and researches in theology and ethics (with a particular research focus on environmental ethics). Andrew’s energy and enthusiasm (and that of his family) have been much appreciated since the initial establishment of Aspiring Biodversity Trust.