BirdsaPlenty FestivalThe BirdsaPlenty Festival is held in October each year in the Whakatane and Opotiki Districts. The festival is the first of its kind in New Zealand and has grown each year through the support of a dedicated group of bird lovers and conservation groups.
Probably some of the best bird-watching in the North Island is to be found in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, principally the Ohiwa Harbour for waders and Te Urewera National Park for forest birds. The diverse range of bird-life in the region includes an excellent range of sea birds, shore birds, marshland birds and forest birds.
The festival supports the enhancement of bird-watching locations: boardwalks, viewing platforms and marked trails and promotes the work of the different agencies and groups that care for birds. The community is encouraged to appreciate the bird-life and to enhance their habitat. Birders from around New Zealand attend the festival, as the area is one of New Zealand's best bird-watching destinations.
The 2010 programme is a series of events that varies from year to year and this year includes:
- Godwit Welcome at Ohiwa Harbour
- Manawahe Kokako Recovery Programme
- Nukuhou Saltmarsh monthly bird count
- Planting for birds
- and much more
- Click here to view the BirdsaPlenty Festival brochure PDF 2010
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Photo of Spoonbills kindly supplied by Warner Haldane
Date: 24 September - 17 October 2010
Location: Eastern Bay of Plenty
FOR INFORMATION on any aspect of the festival contact
Jacqui Hughes 07 308 4098
or Morley and Glen West 07 219 0211 gwest@wave.co.nz
Kindly supported by
Bay of Plenty Regional Council, REAP, Department of Conservation, Longbush Wines,
New World Whakatane, Beacon, Radio 1XX, Whakatane District Museum and Gallery,
White Island Tours. WingSpan Rotorua, Kiwi Encounter Rotorua. Rangitaiki-Tarawera Community Board
PROGRAMME
25-Sept – 31- Oct “Nga Manu” Art Exhibition
Fri 24-Sept Exhibition Opening 5:30pm
Whakatane District Museum & Gallery.
An ornithological themed exhibition featuring painting, installation, photography and sculpture, together with items from the Museum’s collection. Guest artists include Raymond Ching, Jonathan Campbell, Grant Whibley, Jo Ogier, Mandy Hague, Ian Davie, Fiona Gedson and Troy Baker.
Sat 25-Sept 9:00am Forest and Bird Plant sale
Forest & Bird Nursery in Fortunes Road (will be sign-posted) $5 plant packs for birds each containing 3 plants providing either nectar or seed/ fruit.
Ph Jo 07 308 0411
Sun 26-Sept 9:00 am Whirinaki H Tree Track .
Meet at Fort Rd car park (Whirinaki Forest), where the H-Tree track starts. See the noisy kaka, the friendly robins and other forest birds. Enjoy the podocarp forest. See what intensive pest control can do for the forest and its bird populations. Sarah King DoC will point out all the birds and talk about the work DoC is doing in the Whirinaki.
Ph Morley 07 219 0211 email gwest@wave.co.nz
9:30am Kiwi Aversion Training for Dogs
Help protect Whakatane Kiwi by having your dog regularly aversion trained. It only takes 10 minutes $10 per dog.
Book with Louiese (Whk Kiwi Trust) 07 308 4890
Tues 28-Sept 4:00pm Birding Competition along the Whakatane River Bank
Meet at the Amphitheatre, walk along to the Information Centre and back again spotting birds. Discover just how many different species of birds live here in town. Bring a picnic tea and be there for the drawing of spot prizes.
Wed 29-Sept 7:00pm Green Screening
REAP House
Green Screening joins in the celebrations of the BIRDSaPLENTY Festival. This month’s screening will be “10 Days to Paint the Forest”
Koha needed to pay Public Performance fee
Thu 30-Sept 2:30pm - 4:00pm Afternoon Tea at Cheddar Valley Pottery
1034 Wainui Road Ohope. Enjoy “Coffee and Cake” while chatting with the artists and viewing the extensive range of Bird Pottery for sale.
7:30pm Hear the call of the Whakatane Kiwi
The males are out calling back their mates for a second clutch. The Whakatane Kiwi Trust are leading kiwi listening walks.
Adults $16 Children (aged 8 - 17) $10. Book with Vicky (07) 312 6201, admin@whakatanekiwi.org.nz
Sat 2-Oct Matata Lagoon Restoration Celebration – Celebrating the return of the bird life to the Te Awa o Te Atua (Matata) Lagoon. Official reopening and blessing 10.00am, guided walks 11:0am and 1:00 pm, Bird spotting competition, Market day.
Sun 3-Oct 6:30am Nukuhou Salt Marsh Bird Count, 8:00 am walk along new Te Ru track
Join Care group members and be sure to see fern birds, and possibly banded rail. Wear gum boots and warm clothing. Bring field glasses, & cameras.
BBQ brunch provided by BOPRC.
Phone Stuart 07 312 4583
7:30pm Hear the call of the Whakatane Kiwi.
Refer Thu 30-Sept for details
Tue 5-Oct 5:30pm Key note speaker – Keith Owen –“The Birds and their Habitats of Ohiwa Harbour” REAP House
Keith Owen, Department of Conservation, has a special interest in the management of threatened species and ecosystem restoration. His presentation is about the wide variety of birds that rely on Ohiwa Harbour for their survival. Light refreshment provided sponsored by BOPRC
also
Book Launch -- “Discover the Birds of Ohiwa Harbour", a guide for finding birds in Ohiwa, written by Meg Collins and Jim Robinson, funded by BOPRC. This book will be available at I Sites, DoC, BOPRC, Ohiwa Camping Ground and Cheddar Valley Pottery.
Thu 7-Oct 9.30 am Uretara Island Walk and Weeding Meet at Albrecht’s gate, harbour end of Burke Road. Explore the island, experience some of the islands bird life, a little of its history, and the natural revegetation taking place. Bring old footwear to get wet crossing the channel, strong footwear for the walk, warm clothing, a rain coat, gloves lunch & drink. Field glasses could be useful.
A gold coin donation,
Book with Stuart Phone 07 312 4583
7:30pm Hear the call of the Whakatane Kiwi
Refer Thu 30-Sept for details
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