From Forest to Sea

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to hear Forest & Bird’s Dean Baigent-Mercer speak in Thames next week! 

Dean has been coined the “Living Lorax” also known as NZ’s “David Attenborough with Attitude”

He’s incredibly knowledgeable about all things Native in Aotearoa and a very engaging & entertaining speaker.
Dean will be sharing interesting stories about the forest & how seabirds influence our wider ecosystem.

Have you noticed the spotted shag (kawau tikitiki)?

Here in the Hauraki Gulf, we have a genetically distinct population that mainly nests in the northern Firth of Thames. Over the warmer months, they shift south, using the southern Firth through spring and early summer.

They’re our neighbours, and they’re in trouble.

Over the past 50 years, their numbers have declined to fewer than 300 breeding pairs. At this rate, they could disappear from the Firth within the next 10–15 years.

Last summer, members of the Thames community worked alongside Auckland-based scientists to gather data on what may be driving this decline.

Following Dean, we are excited to have Dr Matt Rayner, ornithologist/conservation biologist & conservationist Katina Conomos Zooming in via video call to share the findings of their spotted shag research.

Thanks to Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust for co-hosting this event, we also look forward to hearing what they have been working on recently.

See you next Thursday evening 6.30pm-8.45/9pm – tea, coffee & biscuits, (dinner beforehand is recommended! )

609 Mackay Street, Thames. Gold coin entry appreciated