Surveying coastal birds is an efficient monitoring activity for documenting species response to restoration efforts across the catchments leading into the northern Tauranga Harbour.

Project Parore engaged EcoQuest Education Foundation Te Rarangahau Taiao to trial a monitoring strategy and gather baseline information on the bird species present in the Northern Tauranga Harbour.

To establish a baseline of species-presence and abundance, ten paired coastal high tide transects were completed by kayak. The aim was to document birds utilising the harbour (diversity and relative abundance), identify important habitats, and identify bird species of major conservation concern.

The results of this study were presented by lead author Shelley Langton-Myers at a Cafe Scientifique Katikati seminar in May 2021. Read the full research report, with methodology & results here