Projects & Activities Committee

After a couple of years’ incubation, the OSNZ’s Project and Activities Committee has eventually hatched. The members of the new committee are Carol Davies, Eila Lawton, Mike Bell, Peter Gaze, David Lawrie (ex-officio), and Peter Frost (convenor).

From the outset, the Committee intends to work closely with Regional Representatives to foster and support the wider knowledge and enjoyment of birds among OSNZ members and beyond. Our ultimate goal is to increase both research output and quality. We would like to help members develop and carry out their own studies, or contribute to those of others, and to publish the results. Of course, in some cases, this initially means helping people to develop basic skills in identifying, surveying, catching, handling, and banding birds, among other things. Some people may well choose to stop at that level, content simply to enjoy finding and watching birds; others may want to go further. We hope that we can serve the interests of both groups, and others besides.

The OSNZ is currently compiling a list of projects being undertaken by members of the Society. We plan to work with the project leaders to identify potential openings for others to become involved in an organised way. In some cases, there may be opportunities for training,and we will attempt to develop these. Field courses will be mounted where there is sufficient demand, and where they can be run cost-effectively. Organisations such as the Miranda Shorebird Trust already offer a number of such courses, many with inputs from OSNZ members. We encourage members to use these opportunities in the first instance. For example, the Shorebird Centre will be hosting a wader identification course over the weekend 24-25th October 2009, and a more general field course during the week 13-19th January 2010, one that includes an introduction to bird banding. Details are available at www.miranda-shorebird.org.nz/events.html.

Of course, there are subjects in which the OSNZ is best placed to develop courses, including bird catching, banding and doing moult studies, and we will do so where possible. For example, Mike Bell is planning a short field course in Marlborough in January 2010, focusing on bird banding and moult. The details are currently being worked out, but if you are interested in attending, contact Mike (skua44 [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] nz) for further information. Based on what we learn from that exercise, similar short courses could be organised elsewhere if there are local experts willing to take the lead with our help. A more comprehensive field course in Marlborough in early 2011 is being considered.

There are clearly many things to be done, and much expectation by members to see progress on these. Rather than try to do everything at once, we want to take a more measured approach, identifying priorities – areas of most immediate need and opportunity – and endeavouring to build momentum by implementing these successfully. We cannot do this alone, and so will be working closely with Regional Representatives and Recorders, leaders and participants of ongoing projects, and those with particular expertise, to put together compelling and productive initiatives that will promote everyone’s enjoyment and knowledge of birds. We look forward to working with you on that.

PETER FROST