• About KCC
    • Contact
    • Join Our Mailing List
  • Volunteer
  • Events
  • Blog
    • KCC Mailbox
  • Membership Options
    • Members-only Area
  • Activities
    • Activity ideas
    • Quizzes and Games
    • KCC Stories
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Citizen Science Projects
    • Competitions
  • Wild Things Magazine
  • Join Us!
  • Renew membership!
Kiwi Conservation ClubKiwi Conservation Club
Kiwi Conservation ClubKiwi Conservation Club
  • About KCC
    • Contact
    • Join Our Mailing List
  • Volunteer
  • Events
  • Blog
    • KCC Mailbox
  • Membership Options
    • Members-only Area
  • Activities
    • Activity ideas
    • Quizzes and Games
    • KCC Stories
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Citizen Science Projects
    • Competitions
  • Wild Things Magazine
  • Join Us!
  • Renew membership!

Be Seabird Smart

November 3, 2015 Posted by Kiwi Conservation Club

It’s not just birds that like to go fishing, especially during the summer months.  Lots of New Zealanders head out on the water and around our shores to cast a line or net out and reel in some kai moana (seafood) for their dinner.

A black petrel or taiko (Photo by Karen Baird).

A black petrel or taiko (Photo by Karen Baird).

What you might not know is that some seabirds can sniff out a free meal more than 30 kilometres away. They will swarm around fishing vessels, looking for an easy meal, and can get injured or are drowned, by getting hooks get stuck in their beaks or wings or becoming tangled in the fishing line or net.

So what we can we to help stop this from happening?  Emma Cronin is Forest and Bird’s Seabird Liason Officer.  You or someone in your family might have seen her story in our spring issue of Forest and Bird’s magazine.  KCC and Emma want everyone who goes out to fish to help look after our seabirds and to know what to do if any do get injured on your watch.

Try not to attract seabirds. Make sure your bait sinks quickly so the birds can’t grab it. You could also keep your bait in a covered bin, hide any hooks.

Safely scare seabirds away. Try to deter the birds from hanging around your boat or fishing spot, but make sure you don’t hurt them in the process. You can throw a bucket of water at them or use a hose or toy water gun to move the birds away.

Check out these tips for protecting seabirds while fishing and how to safely remove seabirds from your hook if they do get caught.

Share them with your whanau friends and school and be seabird smart this summer!

 

Share
2

You also might be interested in

Waders & Wonders of Orewa Estuary exhibition

Waders & Wonders of Orewa Estuary exhibition

Oct 4, 2017

Isabella (age 8) has made this video all about the[...]

The drawing I did of Old Blue using the picture for reference. Artwork by Flora
The drawing I did of Old Blue using the picture for reference. Artwork by Flora

A robin encounter on the un-nature trail!

Apr 25, 2017

I scanned the bush ahead, my eyes searching for anything[...]

Alexis and guide Bryant planting native trees beside the Kinabatangan River.
Alexis and guide Bryant planting native trees beside the Kinabatangan River.

Kinabatangan Adventure 

Aug 7, 2017

In the April 2017 school holidays, Alexis (9 years), and[...]

Latest posts

  • Polly Pekapeka visits Rumā Whā @ Karoro School
    Polly Pekapeka visits Rumā Whā @ Karoro School
  • Polly Pekapeka visits Izri
    Polly Pekapeka visits Izri
  • Polly Pekapeka visits Isla
    Polly Pekapeka visits Isla

Categories

Become a KCC Reporter

We're looking for talented young writers to become KCC reporters and share their love of nature with kids across New Zealand. Think you have what it takes? Learn how to submit a story.

Search

Get in Touch

Send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!

Send Message

Search

Privacy Policy

KCO Login