Environment
“An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.”
Rare smelly penguin wins New Zealand bird of the year contest
The hoiho, which means ‘noise shouter’, triumphed in a year free from the usual scandals surrounding the competition.
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Source. theguardian.com, 16.09.2024
Scientists hopeful antidote can help protect bumblebees from pesticides
Scientists have developed a “vaccine” for bees against pesticides – and it appears to work, according to an initial study.
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Source. theguardian.com, 12.09.2024
Coastal restoration could be a crucial carbon sink
Restoring coastal environments could turn them into effective carbon sinks, scientists say.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 11.09.2024
Secrets of the kākāpo's colours revealed in new research
The kākāpo evolved two different colour types millions of years ago to avoid predators, genome sequencing has revealed.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 11.09.2024
Nelson set to trial collecting soft plastics from the kerbside
New Zealand's first trial to collect soft plastic packaging from the kerbside is being rolled out in Nelson.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 28.08.2024
Campaigns kick off for Bird of the Year 'election'
People "put their positivity hat on" for birds - in contrast to voting for politicians, the Bird of the Year organiser says. Voting for the 2024 winner gets under way next week.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 27.08.2024
Could a £2-a-day basic income be the key to protecting rainforests?
Pilot scheme in Amazon communities of central Peru aims to help people choose a more sustainable way of living.
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Source. theguardian.com, 22.08.2024
Risking His Own Extinction to Rescue the Rarest of Flowers
Carlos Magdalena, whose botanical adventures have shades of Indiana Jones, was a driving force in saving the world’s smallest water lily and finding the largest one. He has been called the “plant messiah.”
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Source. nytimes.com, 20.08.2024
‘We need more shade’: US’s hottest city turns to trees to cool those most in need
Phoenix broke several heat records last year. Now Grant Park, which has inequitable tree cover, is seeing a tree-planting drive that promises some respite from 100F temperatures.
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Source. theguardian.com, 17.07.2024
‘It needs to stay in the loop’: German reuse schemes turn shopping upside down
After success of bottle deposit schemes, some retailers are trying to widen culture of reuse – and start tackling Europe’s waste problem.
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Source. theguardian.com, 04.07.2024
Working bee a hive of activity
Like worker bees in a hive, the Richmond Community Gardens was abuzz with activity as the Whakatū Rotary Club working bee flew into action. Nelson Mail visual journalist Martin De Ruyter went along.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 13.07.2024
Rare fernbird photographed at in Wellington swamp after restoration
Catching an elusive mātātā on camera has been described as "incredible" and a reflection of the work done to improve Taupō Swamp's biodiversity.
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Source. theguardian.com, 03.07.2024
Why are moths attracted to lights? Science may finally have an answer
Insect flight paths were filmed at night using hi-res and infrared technology with surprising results.
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Source. theguardian.com, 30.01.2024
Bumblebee species able to survive underwater for up to a week
Common eastern bumblebee queens’ ability while hibernating could help it endure flooding, scientists say.
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Source. theguardian.com, 17.04.2024
The fossil finder: one man’s lifelong search for fragments of Britain’s Jurassic past – photo essay
Richard Forrest has spent half a century combing beaches for ammonites and other fossils.
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Source. theguardian.com, 02.07.2024
I swapped my south LA lawn for a verdant microfarm – now I feed the neighborhood
Beverly Lofton’s home in south Los Angeles used to have a water-guzzling grass lawn. Today, it’s a verdant microfarm that uses solar power and recycled water to grow carrots, beets, potatoes and more, with the bounty distributed to her neighbors.
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Source. theguardian.com, 15.05.2024
Crabs, cockatoos and ringtail possums: the wild things thriving in our cities
From bees to burrowing owls, many species are adapting to urban environments and, with a little extra help from us, more could follow suit.
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Source. theguardian.com, 24.06.2024
My Octopus Teacher director calls for people to embrace their wildness
How can we reclaim our wildness in a world that wants us to be so tame?
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 14.06.2024
Rare white buffalo born at Yellowstone prompts Lakota Sioux celebration
The birth, not yet confirmed by park officials, holds special significance to tribe as ‘both a blessing and warning’
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Source. theguardian.com, 12.06.2024
Elephants call each other by name, study finds
Researchers used artificial intelligence algorithm to analyse calls by two herds of African savanna elephants in Kenya.
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Source. theguardian.com, 10.06.2024
How parakeets escaped and made Britain their home
The bright green birds arrived in the 1970s, and they have since become part of the urban landscape.
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Source. theguardian.com, 09.06.2024
Rare shortjaw kōkopu released in Auckland's Waitākere Ranges to protect population
About 1000 of New Zealand's rarest whitebait species - the shortjaw kōkopu - have been released into streams in Auckland's Waitākere Ranges.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 06.06.2024
Invercargill tuatara on display again as new enclosure unveiled, named
Invercargill's new tuatara enclosure will be unveiled and named at an official opening event on Friday.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 07.06.2024
Northern rātā walks away with victory in Tree of the Year competition
A northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta), located near a cemetery in Karamea on the South Island's West Coast, has won the Tree of the Year award in a landslide victory.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 05.06.2024
King’s Birthday Honours 2024: The plantsman who brought the world to Pukeiti
In the summer of 1969, the future of one of Taranaki’s most revered gardens rode into town with his wife on their Czechoslovakian 350CC Jawa motorbike.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 03.06.2024
Feisty kiwi a symbol of NZ’s ties with Poland
A long-lasting relationship between New Zealand and Poland has been highlighted with the release of a young Kiwi named after the European country.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 01.06.2024
Baby tuatara discovered alive and well at old museum site
A unique and somewhat amazing discovery has been found at the old Invercargill Museum site.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 31.05.2024
Four kākāpō move to new home off Fiordland
Four male kākāpō have been moved to a new offshore home off Fiordland to see if the island can support a larger population.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 29.05.2024
‘The greatest biodiversity in England’ – a wander through the Isle of Purbeck ‘super’ nature reserve
Alongside rare birds, reptiles and insects, this corner of Dorset, poignantly depicted in Mike Leigh’s Nuts in May, serves up brilliant heathland walks, sea views and pints of local ale.
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Source. theguardian.com, 22.05.2024
He’s called ‘omacha,’ a dolphin that transforms into a man. Why?
Fernando Trujillo, the 2024 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year, has devoted his life to protecting the Amazon’s river dolphins.
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Source. nationalgeographic.com, 13.05.2024
If a kiwi calls out into the night, will another kiwi reply?
Every year, keen conservationists gather at monitored kiwi bird habitats across Aotearoa to listen to their calls and collect data on the population. Self-professed bird nerd and journalist Caroline Williams was invited to the inaugural kiwi call survey on Motutapu Island, in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 19.05.2024
Move over, honeybees—America's 4,000 native bees need a day in the sun
Like your tomatoes? You likely have a native bee to thank. It’s time these little-appreciated insects get some respect, experts say.
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Source. nationalgeographic.com, 20.05.2024
These images will help you see coral reefs in a whole new way
A scuba diver until age 79, Georgette Apol Douwma photographed reefs around the world and then transformed her images into dazzling kaleidoscopic designs.
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Source. nationalgeographic.com, 21.05.2024
We finally know how cockroaches conquered the world
A new study traces the German cockroach’s evolution throughout human history, from the Islamic empires to modern-day Europe.
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Source. nationalgeographic.com, 21.05.2024
Prof Andrea Mechelli: ‘People who live near green space are less likely to struggle with mental health issues’
The scientist leading a study into how the urban environment affects our wellbeing on the surprising and lasting psychological benefits of even just a small dose of nature.
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Source. theguardian.com, 19.05.2024
Success for new giant wētā breeding programme, after decades-long drought
For the first time in decades, the critically-threatened Mahoenui giant wētā has been bred in captivity, at a new centre especially set up for the task.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 13.05.2024
Bay of Plenty farming family donate ecologically significant land to the community
A prominent Bay of Plenty farming family is donating to the community 100 hectares of farmland that has served them for the past 60 years.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 10.05.2024
Searching for New Zealand's most interesting tree
Six nominees for this year's New Zealand Tree of the Year competition have been revealed, with organisers saying the story behind the trees is often as important as the vegetation itself.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 07.05.2024
‘I’m a blue whale, I’m here’: researchers listen with delight to songs that hint at Antarctic resurgence
Audio collected with underwater microphones suggests numbers at least stable after centuries of industrial whaling left only a few hundred alive.
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Source. theguardian.com, 05.05.2024
In photos: Record number of sea lions at famous San Francisco pier
They’re lounging, biting each other and generally making a ruckus in numbers not seen in more than a decade. And don't even think about stealing their anchovies.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 06.05.2024
Week in wildlife
In pictures a giant hamster, a mustachioed deer and a zebra on the run.
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Source. theguardian.com, 03.05.2024
Hunt for perfect drink bottle sparks green-minded enterprise
A personal pursuit for a better drink bottle has led to a fledgling enterprise for a group of young Manawatū entrepreneurs.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 01.05.2024
‘Unlike anything today’: Gippsland fossil unlocks secrets of kangaroo that died out 46,000 years ago
Abrupt extinction of short-faced kangaroo a reminder to protect the environment, palaeontologists say.
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Source. theguardian.com, 28.04.2024
Fewer wildfires, great biodiversity: what is the secret to the success of Mexico’s forests?
More than half of the country’s forestry is in community and Indigenous hands – and from CO2 absorption to reducing poverty the results are impressive.
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Source. theguardian.com, 01.05.2024
How Locals Saved ‘the Yosemite of South America’
In central Chile, not far from where the Andes Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean, a vast swath of pristine wilderness is changing hands under the most unusual circumstances.
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Source. nytimes.com, 30.04.2024
Photographer accidentally snaps rare bird in Oregon: ‘It’s mind-blowing’
Michael Sanchez took photos of a bird at Hug Point that may be first official images in North America of the rare blue rock-thrush.
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Source. theguardian.com, 29.04.2024
Portia jumping spiders may have ability to plan attacks on prey
It may sound like the stuff of nightmares but a New Zealand researcher is about to enter the world of a spider species hailed for its predatory hunting ability.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 28.04.2024
Turning the tide – what it takes to take out rats
Rat eradication from islands is a team sport. It’s not a competition – but if it were, New Zealand would surely be up there. That’s why on most pest removal teams around the world you can probably find one or two Kiwis right in the thick of things.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 25.04.2024
An Octopus Took My Camera, and the Images Changed the Way I See the World
I was gifted with a new way of seeing the day I got mugged underwater. I had been filming creatures living in the Great African Sea Forest off the coast of South Africa about a year ago when my camera was grabbed straight out of my hands by a young octopus thief. Wrapping her arms around her bounty, she zoomed backward across the ocean floor.
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Source. nytimes.com, 22.04.2024
Great spotted kiwi found far from home
The discovery of a great spotted kiwi at the northern tip of the South Island is being hailed as remarkable, and a boost for local pest eradication efforts.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 23.04.2024
New Zealand's underground parasite plant pollinated by bats
A parasitic plant that is pollinated by the short-tailed bat is now only found in a few spots across the North Island, but was once widespread across both islands
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 23.04.2024
A quest to demystify creatures of the deep sea
Dr Thom Linley has always been fascinated with fish, how they behave, their ecology and their different ocean habitats. He is a curator of fishes at Te Papa, and also co-hosts the Deep-Sea Podcast, where he speaks to scientists about their marine discoveries.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 18.04.2024
Love nest: how a musk lorikeet fell for a red-tailed black cockatoo
Two parrots have formed a unique relationship after arriving at a Tasmanian wildlife sanctuary.
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Source. theguardian.com, 18.04.2024
Salmon farm says tuk-tuk trial a success, ordering more
A salmon farm in the Mackenzie District says using electric tuk-tuks on its canals has been so successful, they are going to get more.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 18.04.2024
New Zealand's planet-heating gases hit lowest level since the 1990s
Clean energy is behind the country's lowest greenhouse gases since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand has now cut its planet-heating gases for three years in a row, with the latest drop the biggest since climate change efforts began.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 18.04.2024
Penguins in the pond, kiwi in the back yard: how a city brought back its birds
As nature falls silent in most cities around the world, New Zealand’s capital has been transformed by the sound of native birds returning to the dawn chorus.
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Source. theguardian.com, 18.04.2024
Summer 34 – Three decades of albatross research
Gibson’s and Antipodean albatrosses are citizens of no one nation. They are ocean birds, living on the wind and waves, travelling massive distances, passing back and forth over the high seas and the imaginary boundary lines we draw on maps.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 18.04.2024
Over 200 wild kiwi ‘thriving’ in Remutaka Forest Park
The wild kiwi population on the outskirts of Wainuiomata has grown from eight released in 2006 to more than 200 today.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 17.04.2024
Crabs, kelp and mussels: Argentina’s waters teem with life – could a fish farm ban do the same for Chile?
While the ecosystem is thriving off the coast of Argentina, the proliferation of salmon farms in Chile’s waters is threatening marine life, say critics
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Source. theguardian.com, 09.04.2024
Waikato schoolchildren pitch into major kiwi relocation project
A unique partnership in Waikato is allowing local schoolchildren close up access to kiwi.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 12.04.2024
Indigenous knowledge, Western science work together to protect native trees
Tangata whenua from Aotearoa and Australia’s First Nations have gathered to share notes on battling an exotic invader.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 05.04.2024
Students’ climate strike in Blenheim ‘for a better future’
Scores of school students descended on Seymour Square at lunchtime on Friday to stage a protest as part of nationwide School Strike 4 Climate demonstrations.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 05.04.2024
‘Small but mighty’: how invertebrates play central role in shaping our world
From decomposing waste to building coral reefs, invertebrates provide structure to ecosystems.
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Source. theguardian.com, 09.04.2024
Sick of mowing your lawn? Just stop doing it, ecologist urges
Lower Hutt ecologist John Flux recommends joining the "NoMow" movement, which allows your grass to grow to act as a food supply for local birds and insects.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 02.04.2024
Rescued ‘baby hedgehog’ turns out to be hat bobble
A woman who thought she had rescued a “baby hedgehog” later discovered she was in fact caring for a hat bobble.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 27.03.2024
Rare fungus to be moved from Scotland to England in hopes to save species
Fingers of willow gloves, found in only two woodlands, will be rushed to Cumbria and tied to new trees.
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Source. The Guardian, 26.03.2024
High shower pressure can help people save water, study suggests
Researchers in Surrey say visible timers can also reduce water usage after installing sensors in 290 showers
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Source. The Guardian, 10.03.2024
Bald eagles seen nesting in Toronto for first time in city’s recorded history
Presence of birds proof of improving health of city’s green spaces, as they are highly sensitive to environmental disturbances
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Source. The Guardian, 10.03.2024
Wolves are thriving again across western Europe. Is it time to bring them back to the UK?
Former sheep farmer Derek Gow is on a mission to rewild Britain. Having switched sides from team sheep, he wants to reintroduce its mortal enemy…
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Source. The Guardian, 10.03.2024
The week in wildlife – in pictures: a stinky frog, a curious gopher and bald eagle eggs
The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world
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Source. The Guardian, 08.03.2024
I discovered thousands of fossils after retiring. Now I’m nearly 80 and still going strong
I’ve built up a collection from a beach in Weymouth that could help to establish what biodiversity in the UK was like over the course of millions of years
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Source. The Guardian, 07.03.2024
The week in wildlife – in pictures: hugging bear cubs, quarrelling birds and London goslings
The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world
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Source. The Guardian, 01.03.2024
Fatu Hiva monarch chick hand-reared by Auckland Zoo
A breakthrough has been made for a bird on the brink.
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Source. The Guardian, 07.03.2024
Recycling changes: 'It takes a while for the public to catch on'
Milk bottle tops and aerosol cans are not welcome in the recycle bin, but pizza boxes are fine - so long as the pizza has been removed.
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Source. The Guardian, 10.03.2024
Volcanologist Graham Leonard: all about ash
The plumes of ash that can accompany volcanic eruptions are spectacular, but often damaging, in multiple and surprising ways.
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Source. The Guardian, 09.03.2024
Kea studied in Nelson Tasman pine forests prove elusive
Kea being observed for a study in Nelson Tasman pine plantation forests have proved particularly elusive.
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Source. The Guardian, 11.03.2024
Could wasp hunting save endangered coastal moths?
Invasive predators have moved in on a coastal stretch of the South Island where rare native species are easy prey.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 11.03.2024
Marlborough eucalypt pioneer wants more trees in ground
Tree grower Paul Millen wants the planting and processing of eucalypt trees to ramp up, on the back of successful trials.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 06.03.2024
Whio target reached in Abel Tasman
A scheme to re-introduce whio into the Abel Tasman National Park has passed its target of 50, and surveys show the native blue ducks are adapting well.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 14.03.2024
‘The trees are trying to tell us things’: the ecologist championing Britain’s ancient forests
Ted Green, a conservation adviser to the crown estate at Windsor, has a provocative take on our ‘living heritage’
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Source. theguardian.com, 01.01.2024
Wellington asks for government funding for new bird 'super sanctuary'
Greater Wellington Regional Council wants government funding to develop a Lower Hutt bird "super sanctuary," The Puketaha fenced eco-sanctuary would be built in Wainuiomata on 3000 hectares of native bush.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 05.01.2024
How Toronto’s Don River, once declared dead, is roaring back to life
River’s wildlife is gingerly returning to areas that were once the site of heavy industry and its waters will soon become cleaner as the city spends billions to save it
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Source. The Guardian, 22.05.2023
Whale song mystery solved by scientists
Scientists have worked out how some of the largest whales in the ocean produce their haunting and complex songs.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 23.02.2024
Regional accents detected among bottlenose dolphins
A new study has found bottlenose dolphins in New Zealand have distinct regional accents.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 11.03.2024
Big recycling changes on the way
Rubbish and recycling rules are about to change through much of the motu in a bid for standardisation.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 26.01.2024
Worried about the planet, this 15-year-old threw himself into conservation
In this week’s climate column, Olivia Wannan profiles a Nelson teen fighting for Papatūānuku (Mother Earth).
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 13.02.2024
Last bird in colony restoration effort takes flight
The last of this year’s pakahā/fluttering shearwater chicks has flown its nest in a project aimed at re-homing the seabird species on mainland New Zealand.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 07.03.2024
Cyclist riding length of South Island for wilding pine removal
Hot, long days traversing the rugged Molesworth Station are worth it for a cyclist trying to raise awareness of a pest threatening the South Island’s most scenic vistas.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 09.03.2024
Weather: 'Polar jet' to turn March weather into May
While temperatures have been gradually cooling as summer turns into autumn, expect that transition to speed up as the weekend approaches.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 12.03.2024
Rare mushroom sighting near Bristol spawns native fungi cloning project
Lion’s mane find prompts fungarium to conserve rare fungi at risk from farmers and commercial strains.
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Source. theguardian.com, 15.01.2024
New kiwi hospital to care for NZ's feathered national icon
A new hospital about to open in the Bay of Islands is a medical facility with a difference, because it has been built to cater for our feathered national icon.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 14.02.2024
Glencoe farmers awarded for financial, environmental results
Jason and Quentin Miller felt they were standing on the shoulders of their parents when they received a farming award in Invercargill.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 12.04.2024
Green School to host country’s first Beyond COP21 symposium
An event to inspire intermediate and high school leaders to take action in sustainability will be held at Oakura’s Green School on Tuesday.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 08.04.2024
Nelson chosen for kerbside soft plastic recycling trial
That collection of plastic bags you keep forgetting to drop off at a recycling point could soon be picked up at the kerb.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 04.04.2024
A tale of two islands – erect-crested penguins
The Bounty Islands jut out of the water like giant granite fins. Steep and sheer, with no greenery in sight. They are covered instead by a mottled white – guano or bird poo from the tens of thousands of penguins.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 04.04.2024
3D printed eggs used in fairy tern rescue programme
Conservationists have been using 3D printed replica eggs to help an endangered species survive the summer.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 22.03.2024
Release of kiwi into Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki steps up
The release of about 40 kiwi into Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki - the former Egmont National Park - in the past week marks a step-change in attempts to re-establish the taonga on Taranaki Maunga.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 28.03.2024
100 new ocean species discovered in New Zealand
Scientists on an expedition to the Bounty Trough off New Zealand have discovered about 100 new or potentially new ocean species..
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 11.03.2024
Squadron of flying kiwi' to land in Wellington
One hundred wild kiwi will be released into the hills around Wellington from later this month.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 07.03.2024
Long-tailed bat the weight of a AAA battery believed to be NZ's oldest
A bat of at least 26 years is officially New Zealand's oldest known long-tailed bat/pekapeka. Known as T7787, she was caught as part of a bat monitoring programme in Fiordland this month.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 04.03.2024