It is part of the Birds New Zealand five-year Bird Atlas survey which is gathering vital data on the distribution and abundance of native birds across the entire country.
The survey will be the first snapshot of the status of our bird species for 20 years, and it will build on the legacy of two previous Bird Atlas projects which were run in the 1970s and at the turn of the millennium.
This weekend, helicopters will fly citizen scientists to isolated, difficult-to-access Otago and Southland peaks, including the Eyre Mountains, in search of pīwauwau/New Zealand rock wrens and many other native birds.
Birds New Zealand regional representative Pete McClelland said Toi Toi Wines had sponsored the flights which would allow them to reach back-country places where birds had never been surveyed before.
"We'll work in two subgroups — experienced alpine people make up one group that will go into the most rugged areas, and other volunteers will walk through valleys and areas that suit their physical skills."
The project had also received a lot of support from the community.
"Local farmers have been fantastic at giving us access, and our volunteers are so dedicated.
"We can see how much they care about our birdlife; they're looking forward to seeing what we find."
New technology meant researchers would be able to learn a lot more about the bird populations.
In the past, surveys only checked whether species were present.
Now, biologists could extrapolate the findings so they could understand population numbers and movement.
The data would be used by public sector organisations such as the Department of Conservation, and by advocacy groups such as Forest & Bird.
"It will support improved bird conservation and research for years to come."
This period of data collection runs from June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2024.
Birds New Zealand president Bruce McKinlay said the survey was timely because New Zealand was in a period of rapid change.
"Two previous Atlas schemes showed that many of our endemic and native birds have suffered.
"Birds retrenched into the more remote back-country areas, often because of predators such as stoats, rats, cats, possums and mustelids and other introduced mammalian species.
"So surveying places like the Eyre Mountains will provide up-to-date information on the distribution of the nationally endangered pīwauwau/New Zealand rock wren and help lift the survey’s coverage overall."
