#seabirdscience

It’s #WorldAlbatrossDay! Which means we celebrate these phenomenal birds, but we also have to discuss the threats they face. Albatrosses are the most threatened group of birds in the world. They live a long time (67+ years!) and reproduce slowly (1 chick every 1-2 years once they mature, which can take 10 years from when they fledged), so it’s difficult for their populations to adapt to the accelerate environmental change that humans are causing. They can mistake plastic in the ocean for food. They scavenge from commercial fishing vessels, get hooked, and drown. They have the odds stacked against them but there are amazing people around the world fighting to protect them, to learn more about their lives so we can prevent their extinction. Will you join us? #WAD2020 #seabird #albatross #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer #endangeredspecies #climatechange #plasticfree #plasticpollution #fisheries #bycatch #zerobycatch #aotearoa #seabirdscience #womeninstem #seachange #albatrossstories #extinctionisforever #newzealand #birdsofaotearoa #your_best_birds #raw_birds #best_bird_shots https://www.instagram.com/p/CBl7WDXJR7l/?igshid=dwbr4yzbea36

Today I was meant to jump on a ship and head north to do some research on the Kermadec islands. But all of my fieldwork for the rest of the season has been cancelled. Instead I’m watching birds outside the window of my bedroom, and processing photos that I haven’t got around to looking at for two years! Stay home, stay safe Aotearoa. We’re doing this for all of us, so that we can fight this virus off without too high a cost. Grey ternlet, Meyer islands 2018 #birdsofisolation #birdventurenz #nz_birds #birdsofnewzealand #aoteatoa #stayhomestaysafe #kermadecislands #seabirdscience #seabird #fieldbiology #fieldbiologist #nuts_about_birds #your_best_birds #birds_adored #birds_captures #bird_brilliance #birdstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ShXHXJ5DZ/?igshid=b62fygxosrhf

Could this blue-eyed beauty steal your vote for New Zealand Bird of the Year? Shags are definitely some of our most under-appreciated bird species, and I have a special place in my heart for them! Spotted shags are common in the South, but the northern population in the Hauraki Gulf has crashed to around 900 birds from thousands in the past. They’re genetically distinct from their southern cousins, and they need a lot of love to help rebuild their population...⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #nzbirdoftheyear #nzbirds #birdventurenz #thebrillianceofbirds #your_best_birds #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer #wildnz #seabirdstory #seabird #shag #seabirdscience #threatenedspecies #discovernz #nuts_about_birds #birds_adored #birds_brilliance #lovenature #ourplanetdaily #ocean #nzboty #birdsofinstagram #birdstagram #blueplanet https://www.instagram.com/p/B4A85CKpaQ7/?igshid=kv4iujk4rk5m

From where I'd rather be... I'm really looking forward to getting back to work out on the Poor Knights islands with an excellent field team later this year. Fieldwork is my favourite part of being a seabird scientist, even when it means weeks of working all night! Seeing every sunset and sunrise isn't too bad. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #birdventurenz #poorknights #poorknightislands #birdventure #wildernessculture #ocean #conservationphotography #nikonnz #nikond500 #nzfinds #newzealand #aotearoa #fieldbiology #womeninstem #sunset #islandlife #discover_earth #haurakigulf #seachange #seabirdscience #fieldbiologist https://www.instagram.com/p/CAd0IB-pRbi/?igshid=w8qvdyedxuvw

I'm hoping to get back out to Muriwai soon to see the takāpu, Australasian gannets, as they start their breeding season. It's so magical to be able to spend time watching the lives of these seabirds in such an accessible location! Takāpu colonies around Aotearoa are changing - some are in steep decline, while others are expanding. Are they moving to follow the food? Is climate change impacting their ability to forage in some locations? There is some interesting research underway to try and pick these questions apart, so we may have some insights soon!⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #birdventurenz #seabirdscience #seabird #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer #aotearoa #nzmustdo #nzbirds #birds_brilliance #birds_adored #goldenhour #ocean #sea #coast #womeninstem #fieldbiology #biologistlife #birdstagram #best_bird_shots #raw_birds #ig_discover_birdslife #eye_spy_birds #nuts_about_birds #kings_birds https://www.instagram.com/p/B2aBKbtpynV/?igshid=11mki4j8nuj8v

With the 6th World Seabird Twitter Conference on, I couldn't not post a seabird today! I'm really proud to be part of an international community of seabirders: researchers and conservationists who communicate their work in such an accessible way! Check out my story for my own presentation on the importance of storytelling in our field, and enjoy this young Southern Royal Albatross from wild Campbell Island.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #birdventurenz #seabirdscience #albatross #subantarctic #scicomm #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer #wildernessculture #seabirds #birdventure #subantarcticnz #aotearoa #womeninSTEM #fieldbiologist #fieldbiology #biologistlife #wanderwonder #nzbirds #birdsofaotearoa #nikonnz #your_best_birds #birds_adored #thebrillianceofbirds #bird_brilliance #nzfinds #wildnz #travelnz #nuts_about_birds #bird_lovers_daily #expeditionguides https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ySel9JkFb/?igshid=vbrje1b3xubw

It’s #WorldAlbatrossDay! Which means we celebrate these phenomenal birds, but we also have to discuss the threats they face. Albatrosses are the most threatened group of birds in the world. They live a long time (67+ years!) and reproduce slowly (1 chick every 1-2 years once they mature, which can take 10 years from when they fledged), so it’s difficult for their populations to adapt to the accelerate environmental change that humans are causing. They can mistake plastic in the ocean for food. They scavenge from commercial fishing vessels, get hooked, and drown. They have the odds stacked against them but there are amazing people around the world fighting to protect them, to learn more about their lives so we can prevent their extinction. Will you join us? #WAD2020 #seabird #albatross #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer #endangeredspecies #climatechange #plasticfree #plasticpollution #fisheries #bycatch #zerobycatch #aotearoa #seabirdscience #womeninstem #seachange #albatrossstories #extinctionisforever #newzealand #birdsofaotearoa #your_best_birds #raw_birds #best_bird_shots https://www.instagram.com/p/CBl7WDXJR7l/?igshid=w145uvjzcts2

Light-mantled albatross 💙 I’ll brave any amount of seasickness to see these beautiful birds in their subantarctic home. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #birdventurenz #thebrillianceofbirds #nzbirds #your_best_birds #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer #nuts_about_birds #bird_brilliance #birds_adored @docgovtnz @forestandbird @nz_birds @nikonnz #nikond500 #nikon #birdphotography #feathered_perfection #aotearoa #subantarctic #seabird #albatross #birdstagram #raw_birds #seabirdscience #bird_lovers_daily #bird_lovers #nature_brilliance #eathcaptures #wilderness #explore #adventure #fieldbiology #fieldbiologist https://www.instagram.com/p/B9e3aGQpxO8/?igshid=7j5t2ln3wqde