Rural update April 2022
We have our Autumn team trained up and ready to go! It’s a bit dry for planting so a perfect chance to get them started on any rabbit fencing or weed control projects you’ve been thinking about tackling pre-winter.
Get in touch if you’d like to chat through any projects or to schedule the team to come out.
Following on from last week’s biodiversity theme, this week we talk about bird monitoring with the 5 minute bird count. There’s even a printable template so that you and the kids can give it a go in the school holidays.
Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research are hosting a series of webinars on remote sensing tools for farms, and Otago Catchments Community is running a hands on workshop for plant propagation. More information below.
5 minute bird count
The 5 minute bird count is a simple method for monitoring abundance of birds and tracking trends in bird populations over time. Why not try it out during the school holidays? You can start by keeping it simple and noting down key species.
Click here for a print out to fill in results and click here for instructions from DOC. Or pop the print out on the fridge and record any sightings of interesting birds with the date and keep track that way.
Not sure which bird is which? Check out NZ Birds online to help identify your feathered friends.
EVENTS
Remote sensing:
More than meets the eye
Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research is hosting a mini-series of four webinars over two days to showcase some of the recent developments in remote sensing technologies and how these are applied – from winter forage crops to geospatial landslide modelling.
Native Plant Propagation Workshop:
Where: 448 Lauder Road, Omakau
When: 11 April 10am – 3.30pm
What to bring: Suitable outdoor clothing
Otago Catchment Community Inc are running a propagation workshop at Anna and Ben Gillespie’s farm in Omakau. If you and your catchment group are interested in running a propagation workshop, this workshop will show you how. It will cover:
- Seed collection
- Seed processing
- Seed dormancy
- Seed sowing
- Pricking out
- Home nursery
- Farm planting
See the link below for more information or RSVP to Otago Catchment Community:
Email: sam.dixon@otagocatchments.co.nz | Phone: 027 777 0940