Beach Patrol Scheme

New Zealand is an insular country with a long coastline at right angles to the prevailing winds. Surrounded by both sub-tropical and sub-antarctic water zones, it is the breeding centre for 78 species of seabird and lies in the path of seabirds moving eastward in the non-breeding season (winter) from the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Seabirds can be studied from ships but are often impossible to accurately identify at sea, so analysis of dead birds washed up on the world's coasts remains one of the main ways of studying seabird movements throughout the year. New Zealand is geographically well placed for this work.

Why is beach patrolling so important - and what are 'wrecks'?

The OSNZ Beach Patrol Scheme started in 1951 and since 1961 a summary of each year's results has appeared in Notornis. The aim is to record systematically the seabirds found dead on New Zealand beaches. Infrequent or opportunistic patrols may result in a few specimens of rare birds being sent to museums and the occasional recovery of a banded bird, but regular patrols provide these benefits in greater degree and also gather information of great scientific value. Their results establish and confirm what species of seabirds occur in New Zealand waters, and accumulate information leading to an understanding of their distribution, abundance, seasonal or annual movements and migrations. Data can be accumulated towards investigation of the causes of seabird deaths on New Zealand coasts, particularly in the case of ‘wrecks’.

A ‘wreck’ is a period of exceptionally severe mortality, sometimes involving mainly one species, or at other times several species. Some ‘wrecks’ seem to be caused by storms catching young birds a few days after leaving their nests, others by storms combined with food shortage. In some overseas seabird ‘wrecks’, the cause of death has been attributed to avian disease, biotoxins or pollutants. Accurate records of the extent and frequency of ‘wrecks’, the condition (and weight) of birds and the weather which accompanies them can provide a better understanding of their causes.

How is beach patrolling done?

A beach patrol is a walk along the high tide line of a beach to find, identify and record what birds have been washed ashore. Patrols may occur at any time of the year and after any weather, though highest mortalities often occur after storms with onshore winds, especially in winter. Exposed beaches yield more results than land-locked harbour beaches. All birds should be removed from the beach during each patrol to prevent the same birds being reported by another patroller.

Opportunistic patrols are valuable and should be recorded, but regular patrols yield a greater volume of information, and in some districts are organised by groups of members taking turns to do a monthly or fortnightly patrol of suitable beaches. In 1996, regular monthly beach patrols were carried out in Northland, Auckland, South Auckland, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Wellington and Southland.

How are dead birds recorded?

The beach patrol data sheet (record form) can be downloaded as a Word file (return by email) or as a PDF file (print and return by fax or post). Full instructions are printed at the bottom of the form. Alternatively, printed cards can be obtained from the Beach Patrol Organiser or through Regional Representatives. The data sheets/cards provide space for recording all species obtained and the number of each species found, so that an assessment of relative abundance of species can be built up over the years; the length of beach covered by the patrol, so that it is clear whether there has been significant or average mortality, and so that the abundance of species per kilometre can be compared with that for other regions and other years; the freshness of specimens, age group of specimens (if known) and weather conditions prior to the patrol, so that the effect of weather on mortality patterns can be studied.

If no birds are found, a beach patrol card should still be filled in, with a NIL return. It is just as important to know when and why birds are not washing up on beaches, as it is to know when and why they are being found ashore.

When filling in cards, use either the full generic and specific name of the bird as per the latest Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand or use the appropriate common name as per the Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Don't use vague or ambiguous names, e.g. BBG, muttonbird, little penguin. Cards should be filled in as soon as identifications have been checked, and sent to the scheme organiser before 1 March each year.

Accurate identification of birds found is absolutely essential, and not always easy. Beginners should find out who else does beach patrols in the area and who is the nearest authority to confirm their identification. In districts where regular patrols are done, a beginner can learn much by joining them and getting instruction in diagnostic characters from an experienced patroller. Beginners should also learn and practise the standard method of measuring and weighing birds.

If no-one locally patrols beaches, then contact the Beach Patrol Organiser for advice on what to do with birds that can not be identified. In the meantime, place all retained corpses in a deep freezer until they are identified by an expert. Wrap the corpse thoroughly in sealed plastic bags and attach a note or label to each corpse stating the name and address of the collector, date collected, name of the beach and any other relevant details.

When patrolling, do not rely on memory. Carry a sack or plastic bags to collect specimens you cannot identify; collect at least the head of unknown specimens - in most cases this is sufficient for identification - and bear in mind that museums are always keen to obtain fresh specimens or dried corpses of unusual species. Once you can identify with certainty the commoner species, few birds will need to be collected. However, all birds should be removed from the beach; place easily identified birds up in the dunes.

Please note that you do not require a permit if you collect corpses for identification purpose, provided you do not keep them long term. Retaining corpses for private collections, however, requires a special permit which you would need to obtain from your local museum.

How to get involved?

If you are interested in beach patrol work, do not be discouraged if no regular patrolling is done in your area. Work on your own if you have to, but make arrangements to have your identifications checked. Many parts of New Zealand's long coastline are not patrolled adequately, or at all. This aspect of bird study can be rewarding and exciting, and every beach patrol carried out adds to the value of the scheme.

Download the Beach Patrol data in either Word, RTF or PDF format.
For more details and instructions (Powlesland & Imber, 1988) – click here
For Beach Patrol District Codes – click here
Any queries - contact the Beach Patrol Organiser
Click below to download annual reports.