New Zealand Falcon sightings on eBird by Native Birds Taranaki

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Ian McLean
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New Zealand Falcon sightings on eBird by Native Birds Taranaki

Postby Ian McLean » Wed Sep 25, 2024 10:57 am

Kia ora
Does anyone using ebird know who Native Birds Taranaki is ? I am keen to know how they manage to log a mass of incidental New Zealand Falcon sightings on ebird in just about every location on mainland New Zealand. There sightings date back to 1968 & there is even one at sea south of Campbell Island.

https://ebird.org/map/nezfal1?env.minX= ... 8114235167

Amazingly, they only ever report one species (the New Zealand falcon), the comments made are rather basic & there are never any photos. The number of records is so amazing, that it seems Native Birds Taranaki is permanently travelling the length & breadth of this country. I am very keen to know if all of these sightings are genuine.

According to these sightings by Native Birds Taranaki, we have had New Zealand falcon in the Auckland region in Northcote, Orewa, Waiheke Island, Cornwallis, Te Atatu, suburban Howick etc, but know one else is seeing these falcon, which are very much a rare bird in the Auckland region. Any information or explanation would very much appreciated.

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Ian McLean
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Oscar Thomas
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Re: New Zealand Falcon sightings on eBird by Native Birds Taranaki

Postby Oscar Thomas » Wed Sep 25, 2024 1:39 pm

It is the Wingspan sightings database https://www.wingspan.co.nz/report_new_z ... hting.html
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Ian McLean
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Re: New Zealand Falcon sightings on eBird by Native Birds Taranaki

Postby Ian McLean » Wed Sep 25, 2024 2:14 pm

Oscar Thomas wrote:It is the Wingspan sightings database https://www.wingspan.co.nz/report_new_z ... hting.html


Oscar, so is Native Birds Taranaki entering these sightings on behalf of Wingspan ? Here in Auckland we have good reason to question many sightings of NZ falcon, as many people get them confused with kahu/swamp harrier. We have a similar situation here with people (mainly non birders) confusing kookaburra with Kotare/scared kingfisher & barn owl with ruru. Whilst occasionally a barn owl is sighted (as has occurred recently), the vast majority turn out to be ruru.

I also have a concern as to whether Wingspan just accept sightings or do they go through an evaluation process similar to when you submit an Unusual Bird Report (UBR) to Birds New Zealand ? As a side issue I have previously asked Wingspan to encourage people who had reported sightings of barn owl to them, to submit UBRs to Birds New Zealand, but got no willingness to co-operate. I will have another go at discussing this with them. :|

It is frustrating to see a mass of records inputted into a database that look suspect !
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Neil Fitzgerald
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Re: New Zealand Falcon sightings on eBird by Native Birds Taranaki

Postby Neil Fitzgerald » Wed Sep 25, 2024 2:54 pm

It will be NZ Falcon Survey / Dave Bell. The NZ Falcon Survey has been going for years and I believe is completely independent of Wingspan. http://www.nzfalcon.org.nz
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Oscar Thomas
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Re: New Zealand Falcon sightings on eBird by Native Birds Taranaki

Postby Oscar Thomas » Wed Sep 25, 2024 3:18 pm

Yes apologies, I got those two confused.
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Ian McLean
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Re: New Zealand Falcon sightings on eBird by Native Birds Taranaki

Postby Ian McLean » Fri Sep 27, 2024 11:04 am

Neil Fitzgerald wrote:It will be NZ Falcon Survey / Dave Bell. The NZ Falcon Survey has been going for years and I believe is completely independent of Wingspan. http://www.nzfalcon.org.nz


Thanks for that information Neil, that solves the mystery. A number of the locations inputted by Dave Bell need correction e.g. the one at sea south of Campbell Island. Mis-identification can also be an issue.
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Threeps
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Re: New Zealand Falcon sightings on eBird by Native Birds Taranaki

Postby Threeps » Fri Oct 04, 2024 3:10 pm

Maybe a query to Russell Cannings as the eBird Moderator for the Taranaki Region could confirm the identity of 'Native Birds Taranaki' to see about getting some corrections on their eDbitd listings?
Steve Purdon

No te whenua mo nga Kotimana ahau.

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