The 6th annual national survey of garden birds is about to
begin. Participants can do the count from the luxury of their
kitchen or living room by looking out the window at just one
part of their garden. More than the 3000 survey forms were
completed last year and organisers are looking for an increase
this year. The results of last year’s survey show that the most
numerous species counted in New Zealand gardens is the house
sparrow followed by the silvereye (or waxeye), starling,
blackbird and myna. In 2011, Hawke’s Bay recorded the largest
increase in the number of survey forms completed. The survey
form and an identification chart for the most common birds found
in New Zealand gardens is available on the web at
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biocons/gardenbird/