Site Visit · Field Trip

Site Visit Guide

Station-by-station field trip plan for a Taranaki reserve

Total Duration

~90 minutes

Group Size

4–6 per station

Suggested Sites

Local bush reserve or stream corridor

Station Rotation

Avian Diversity

Page 2 10 min

DOC 5-Min Bird Count · Dawson & Bull 1975

Taranaki context: Listen for Tūī, Kererū, and Riroriro. If near the maunga slopes, watch for Toutouwai (NZ Robin).

Stream Habitat & Aquatic Health

Page 4 20 min

Clapcott et al. 2011 · Fish Survey (Night Spotlighting)

Taranaki context: Waiwhakaiho catchment streams may contain Longfin Eel (Tuna), Banded Kōkopu, and Kōura. Record conservation status for each species.

Pest Plants & Animals

Page 5 15 min

Field Observation · NPCA 2020

Taranaki context: This activity connects directly to 'Towards Predator-Free Taranaki'. Discuss how RTC% data informs trap placement decisions.

FAMS — Fence Assessment

Page 5 10 min

NWR FAMS Protocol

Taranaki context: Good boundary integrity is critical for pest exclusion. A well-maintained fence can significantly reduce RTC% over time.

Photo Points

Page 6 10 min

4 bearings per point · N/E/S/W

Taranaki context: Photo points are the most powerful long-term monitoring tool. A series of photos from the same point over years tells the story of forest recovery.

Debrief & Hui

Gather the group at the end of the visit. Use these questions to guide the discussion:

What was the most surprising species you observed today?

Which component do you think had the biggest impact on the composite score?

If you were the land manager, what is the single most important action you would take to improve this site?

How did the actual site compare to what you expected from the booklet protocols?

What additional survey method would you add to the BMS booklet, and why?